Intimacy is quiet and often unnoticed—a moment of stillness where trust grows without words. “Shinmitsu 親密” explores the subtle ways closeness unfolds in Japan, where tenderness lives in the space between restraint and vulnerability. Through glimpses of couples, friends, and families, these images capture moments when walls come down, revealing something deeply personal yet universally understood. As Rein says, “Being loved means being truly known, even when it’s terrifying.”
Fujishima Family
Minori: “Photographing three generations of my family felt like capturing the passing of life itself. It made me realize how precious they are—something I’d taken for granted.”
Hikari & Reina
“Even if we don’t talk often or are far apart, the moment we reconnect, it’s like no time has passed. And we always end up laughing together.”
In Japan, people often navigate between two selves: the public face (Tatemae) and the private truth (Honne). Daily life moves within unspoken boundaries—gestures restrained, emotions held back, thoughts left unsaid. Yet intimacy reveals itself in the smallest details: a lingering glance, a hesitant touch, a silent understanding. To step beyond Tatemae is to risk being seen completely raw. It demands trust, the courage to be vulnerable, and the hope of being met with acceptance, not rejection.
Hibari & Rein
Rein: “It was like a lily blooming in a hurricane. Everything chaotic suddenly fell into place. She’s my breath of fresh air—yes, it’s cliché, but everything sparkled, the sky seemed brighter, the birds sang louder. I guess that’s what finding your soulmate feels like.”
As a photographer, I’m drawn to spaces where I don’t naturally belong, yet I’m welcomed through the intimacy of others. In Japan, where emotions live between the lines, capturing tenderness feels like witnessing a quiet rebellion. Each photo holds both personal and universal truths, revealing the contrast between our outer and inner selves. As Hanna puts it, “The photo froze something timeless—a bond that will remain, no matter how life changes.” In documenting these moments of closeness, I find my own intimacy too—the quiet freedom to truly see and be seen.
Words and images by Gili Benita.
Harutaro & Malorie
“Our most defining moment was a night on the beach, bathed in moonlight, listening to the waves. We connected on a deeper, spiritual level that night—it brought us closer than ever before.”
Yu & Nanami
“For us, intimacy is the depth of affection.”
Tsukasa and Kai
“Intimacy for us is being so close people assume we’re gay—even though we’re not.”
Hannah & Noah
“Distance may separate us physically, but emotionally, we’ve only grown closer. It mirrors Japan’s shifting society, where traditional roles loosen and individuality thrives.”
Hanna (on her nephew Noah)
Fukutaro & Naqi
Naqi: “When I was broken, avoiding everyone, I suddenly found myself with him—listening to music, drinking cheap wine, watching him dance and rap with a smile.”