Michael Yamashita // S2 Ep 104 // The Legend of National Geographic

Welcome back to Season 2, Episode 104 of the Asian Hustle Network Podcast! We are very excited to have Michael Yamashita on this week's show.

We interview Asian entrepreneurs around the world to amplify their voices and empower Asians to pursue their dreams and goals. We believe that each person has a message and a unique story from their entrepreneurial journey that they can share with all of us. Check us out on Anchor, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, TuneIn, Spotify, and more. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a positive 5-star review. This is our opportunity to use the voices of the Asian community and share these incredible stories with the world. We release a new episode every Wednesday and Saturday, so stay tuned!

After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in Asian studies, photographer Michael Yamashita spent seven years in Asia, which became his photographic area of specialty. Upon returning to the US, Yamashita began shooting for the National Geographic as well as other American and international magazines and clients.

Combining his dual passions of photography and travel has culminated in a career spanning over 35 years, an Instagram following of more than 1.8 million, and most recently entered him into the world of NFTs.  A frequent lecturer and teacher at universities and workshops around the world, Yamashita has received numerous industry awards, including those from the Pictures of the Year, Photo District News, the New York Art Directors Club, and the Asian-American Journalists Association.  His work has been exhibited in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and at the National Gallery in Washington, DC.  Yamashita’s most recent exhibitions, currently traveling the world, are focused on the theme of the Silk Road Journey following both the overland and maritime silk road routes.

In addition to Yamashita’s focus on Asia, his work has taken him to six continents. Yamashita’s particular specialty is in retracing the paths of famous travelers and historical routes resulting in stories on Marco Polo, the Chinese explorer Zheng He, Chamagudao - the Tea Horse Road, the Great Wall of China, the Mekong River from source to mouth.

Yamashita has published thirteen books, mostly inspired by his 30 National Geographic stories.  His passion for the Tibetan world led him to shoot 4 stories for Natgeo: Our Man in China; Joseph Rock, The Forgotten Road, Tibetan Gold and Journey to Shangri-La photographed over a 6 year period, which resulted in the book, Shangri-La [along the tea road to Lhasa].

While not traveling, Michael Yamashita lives with his family in rural New Jersey, where he maintains a studio and is an active volunteer fireman.

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