Kataoka's interest in birds runs deep, and started when he was a ninth grader. His passion for bird watching has continued to this day. Identifying birds is important.
Identification is the basis for conversation regarding birds.
In the eastern part of Hokkaido lies about 3100 hectare wide marsh in Kiritappu. Facing the Pacific Ocean is the Kiritappu Peninsula. The area has a cape, marshes and forests, where some 300 different species of birds have been spotted. It was 14 years ago, in 1985, that Kataoka settled here, devoted to bird watching. I used to love collecting picture books as a child.