Japanese Shugendo practitioner performing ascetic waterfall ritual in Kyoto, Japan

Master Hoshino, a 12th generation Yamabushi practitioner. Image made on Mount Haguro in Yamagata.

Shingon Monk in Shugendo training on the iron chains of Mount Ishizuchi

A large traditional Japanese torii gate on Yudono Mountain with a group of Yamabushi walking beneath it, set against a misty landscape with trees and stone lanterns in the background.

Nachi Fire Festival image of men carrying barrels of fire

Haguro Yamabushi in training on Misen Mountain on Miyajima Island

Nachi Fire Festival men carrying torches of fire

Tendai Buddhist monks in Shugendo Training on Mount Omine

A solitary Tendai Buddhist monk in Shugendo Training on Mount Omine

A woman performing a traditional Japanese dance with a flaming torch, dressed in traditional clothing, inside a decorated room.

Shingon Buddhist monk with a shaved head, closed eyes, and traditional robes, holding a staff, surrounded by other monks in similar attire.

A group of Haguro Yamabushi standing around a large bonfire at night.

Abbot of Gokurakuji Temple performing a Shingon Buddhist fire ritual

A Shinto priestess performing Kagura shrine dancing

A Haguro Yamabushi performing a ritual with a burning torch in front of a large fire, with onlookers watching in the background at night.

A traditional Japanese fire-walking ceremony with a person running past a large controlled fire while a group of people dressed in traditional clothing observe.

A person dressed in traditional Japanese attire sitting cross-legged on a platform, holding a small container, with ceremonial objects around them, in a decorated setting.

A traditional Japanese pagoda surrounded by dense trees and foliage in black and white, with multiple eaves and intricate wooden details.

A woman in white robes kneels with her head bowed in prayer under a waterfall, with a second woman in white robes standing with hands clasped, and a mystical, semi-transparent figure with a beard and glasses standing behind them, all surrounded by sp

A person wearing traditional white clothing and a conical hat walking with a cane down a stone path in a dense forest.

A person with a pink backpack walking down stone steps towards a traditional Japanese torii gate surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees.

A procession of people walking down a stone path through a forest of tall trees, carrying lanterns and banners.

A traditional Japanese performance with a man jumping over a small fire, dressed in traditional attire, in front of a temple with a group of performers in uniform behind him, surrounded by trees and statues.

A group of people in traditional attire participating in a cultural or religious ceremony, standing in a line holding various objects, with a small tree in the foreground, in a rustic setting.

A woman wearing traditional Japanese clothing observing a large bonfire in a shrine setting at night.

A woman dressed in traditional Japanese kimono kneeling on a wooden floor, holding a folded paper object, in a dimly lit shrine or temple setting, with hanging lanterns and traditional decorations in the background.

A person in traditional ceremonial clothing kneels on the ground, holding a long object over a sacred fire, surrounded by seated and standing onlookers during a ritual or ceremony in an outdoor space with trees.

Close-up of a person wearing traditional white clothing with metallic rings, a bell, and an orange tassel hanging from the waistband, with another person in the blurred background.

Two individuals dressed in traditional Japanese clothing and umbrellas walking on a foggy, lush green forest trail.

People dressed in traditional Japanese clothing performing a fire ritual around a large bonfire at night, with onlookers in the background.

A traditional Japanese fire walking ceremony with large burning logs and people in traditional attire.

Two people in traditional Japanese attire in a forest, one facing away with a straw hat and the other facing forward wearing a wide-brimmed hat, carrying a staff, with trees in the background

A person in traditional Japanese attire sitting in a dimly lit room with decorated walls, facing a fire or ritual involving flames and sparks, with shrine-like objects and figures in the background.

Five men dressed in traditional Japanese ceremonial robes and headgear sit in a row on the ground, reading from books or tablets, in a misty outdoor setting with trees and wooden structures in the background.

Four sculptures of people dressed in traditional white clothing, standing and sitting on a rock, drinking from vessel-shaped containers, with pink trees and a blue sky with wispy clouds in the background.

Black and white photo of a traditional Asian temple with steps leading up to it, surrounded by trees and rocks with sculptures of mythological figures.

Men dressed in traditional Japanese clothing carrying large decorated paper fans during a festival in a wooded area.

A person dressed in white with a backpack and walking stick, walking along a nature trail surrounded by trees and large rocks, with a cloudy sky overhead.

A series of white torii gates leading up a staircase toward a shrine, with trees in the background and patterns of shadows on the ground.

A procession of people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing walks along a forest path decorated with lanterns.

A group of people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, standing in a line, holding long sticks, participating in a nighttime festival or event.

A monk in traditional robes performs a ritual or prayer with a candle and offerings in a decorated setting.

People participating in a traditional Japanese festival, wearing kimono and carrying lanterns, with a person under a large umbrella, in black and white.

A group of people practicing meditation or prayer in a body of water with mountains and clouds in the background.

A black-and-white photograph of a stone sculpture of a fierce, muscular warrior with a menacing expression, holding a hammer, with light reflecting off the background foliage.

Adrian Cox

Photographer

Close-up of a man with short dark hair and blue eyes wearing a white t-shirt against a neutral background.

Photography connects me more deeply to the world, and takes me to to places I wouldn't otherwise see. Living in Japan, I find myself drawn to the hidden world of Japan’s mystics and have gained rare and intimate access to secretive groups like the yamabushi of Shugendo- an opportunity few outsiders ever experience. This ongoing project is called the “Mystics of Japan”

Much of my life has been dedicated to exploring inner worlds- for over 30 years, I have taught and practiced yoga, breathwork and meditation, disciplines that connect me deeply to ascetic and mystic traditions. This journey of curiosity has opened me to profound insights and led me to learn from many masters.

My decades of internal practice are now the foundation from which I create art. I primarily photography using invisible infrared light, a medium which allows me to capture the subtle world between worlds, inviting viewers into a timeless, mystical space.

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