Japanese travel photographer Masashi Mitsui 三井昌志 (@MitsuiMasashi), known for his immersive documentation of remote cultures and working-class life across Asia, has captured the attention of global travel and photography communities with his ongoing 12th motorcycle circumnavigation of India. He recently tweeted a heartfelt message of gratitude and purpose to his Indian followers.
Mitsui, who has covered approximately 200,000 kilometres in India over a series of journeys since 2007, revealed that his travels are driven not by guidebooks or online resources but by serendipitous encounters and a desire to preserve vanishing cultural moments through photography.
Masashi Mitsui journey driven by curiosity and cultural preservation
Mitsui’s recent tweet to his Indian audience reaffirmed his long-standing bond with the diverse and vibrant communities that he encounters on the roads. In his message, he thanked his followers and explained his approach, stating that he travels without relying on guidebooks, blogs or YouTube, instead embracing chance meetings and local insights to inform his exploration. This method has shaped Mitchui’s journey as a deeply human-centred documentary project rather than a conventional travelogue.
