
The Okazaki Optical Research Institute, located in the Okazaki district of Kyoto, is a research division of Enlighten Research Studio. Specializing in the preservation and utilization of valuable technological heritage—particularly classic film cameras—the institute conducts innovative studies at the intersection of technology and art. By delving into the history of film cameras and vintage lenses, and documenting photographic techniques, the institute not only preserves their legacy but also reinterprets the resulting images as meaningful art within contemporary and future contexts, creating new forms of value.

The research outcomes of the Okazaki Optical Research Institute are shared through reports, webinars, and other public presentations.
← You can also explore our ongoing research in the "Journal".

The first publication from the Okazaki Optical Research Institute, "A Return to Film"
The essay collection A Return to Film, dedicated to the art of film photography, has been published.
This volume is a quiet reflection woven together with film cameras and lenses that record the gentle passage of time. (More in Japanese)(Discover more In English)
Amazon(US)is now offering this title.

The Okazaki Optical Research Institute hosts an online gallery featuring photographs captured on film.
The permanent exhibition features"Shida Saburō and His Circle"
Photography by Hiroshi Kanada et al.
Special exhibitions are also planned to be held periodically.
Shida Saburō Facebook

Special Exhibition : Fragments of Season – Traces of Time
Revisiting the Present through PENTAX M42 Cameras — AP, SV, SP, and SL
A photographic exhibition capturing scenes where the past and present quietly intersect —
viewed through five angles of flowers, prayers, townscapes, light and shadow, and distant horizons.

Special Exhibition : 110 Film Chronicles:Prelude to Spring
From Winter to Spring in Japan — Captured through the Pentax Auto 110 and Canon 110ED
This series expresses the subtle transition of seasons with the distinctive grain and nostalgic tones unique to 110 film.
Through scenes of urban bustle, tranquil nature, and the interplay of light and shadow, it invites viewers to rediscover the charm of film photography that captures the present Japan in a retro aesthetic.

Special Exhibition : Tracks of Time – Kyoto, A Journey Through Memories
Kyoto, 1976 and 2025 — Through the Same Film Camera: PENTAX KX
This exhibition traces changing landscapes and enduring memories of Kyoto through photographs taken nearly half a century apart with the same PENTAX KX film camera.
It invites viewers to experience the quiet flow of time connecting the past, the present, and the future.