Beyond the Border

Early in the morning, the Sika deer can be found walking in the streets of the ancient Japanese capital, Nara, Japan. Sika deer are considered a divine servant of the Kasuga shrine, and are protected as a national treasure. However, in other regions of Japan the deer’s feeding habits are causing serious problems for farmers, and local governments encourage population management. Every year, more than 360,000 deer are killed in Japan. Inside these arbitrary boundaries created by man, the deer are beloved and treated as domesticated animals. Outside of these boundaries, they are killed as destructive animals. By taking photographs of the free Sika deer in Nara, I dream that one day they will occupy an abandoned town.