Michael Yamashita
Michael Yamashita is a National Geographic photographer and storyteller renowned for his deep cultural exploration of Asia. Best known for tracing the routes of Marco Polo, his work blends history, geography, and human connection—bringing distant places to life.
Culture Keeper
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Far East Expert
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Early Adopter
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Culture Keeper • Far East Expert • Early Adopter •
More about Michael
With more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram, photographer Michael Yamashita is known as one of photography’s top influencers. Michael has shot for National Geographic for more than 40 years, combining his passions of travel and photography with his love of history and culture. An Asian Studies major at Wesleyan University and fluent in Japanese, Michael has followed his roots to become a Far East expert. In addition to his work throughout Asia, which has included intensive concentrations in China, Japan, Korea, and India, his career has taken him to six continents.
Michael’s specialty has been in retracing the journeys of iconic explorers, such as Marco Polo and the Chinese admiral Zheng He, along their historic routes to illuminate their discoveries and help us understand the early roots of globalization. His current focus has been documenting China’s new Belt Road initiative, which ranges across the countries along the original Silk Road of Marco Polo’s day.
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Michael’s work has been exhibited in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Germany, and closer to home, at The Carter Center, LACMA, and the Smithsonian National Gallery. His industry awards include those from Pictures of the Year, Photo District News, The New York Arts Directors Club, and the Asian American Journalists Association. Along with two documentary feature films, Michael has published 16 books in multiple languages, including his latest, Shangri-La.
When not speaking or on assignment, Michael can be found with his family at his home and photography studio in rural New Jersey, where he is an active volunteer firefighter.
Speaking Topics
Geopolitics
Exploration
Culture
Watch Michael in action
Presentations
East Meets West: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo
Join National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita as he retraces Marco Polo’s journey one year after its 700th anniversary, celebrating the explorer who bridged East and West. Discover the cultures, arts, and landscapes Polo encountered, and explore how his epic travels inspired a new age of exploration and global connection.
“The best camera is the one you have with you.”
– Michael Yamashita