"It was the first time in my life I'd seen a white orca. I was desperate to get a shot — they swim fast and only surface for a moment."

Initially the white orca was spotted by another nearby tourist vessel, which radioed Hayakawa’s boat and allowed them to approach.

The sighting was entirely unexpected, as Hayakawa had not set out that day specifically looking for the rare creature.

The albino or leucistic orca — scientists are still unsure which condition affects these rare whales — is part of a small group of just three white orcas known to have appeared in the region with only five or six known in the world.

"This photo means so much to me," Hayakawa said. "I’ve spent over a decade photographing orcas, and this is the first white one I’ve ever seen.

"I hope as many people as possible get to see it and appreciate how rare and beautiful these animals are."

The photos, posted on Hayakawa’s Instagram, quickly went viral, but not without scepticism.

"I received a lot of comments saying it’s fake, that it was made with AI or edited," Hayakawa admitted. "But it’s real. I was there."

For Hayakawa, the moment was the culmination of years of dedication. He began photographing whales in 2009 and invested in professional camera equipment the following year.

Since then, he’s been out on the ocean year after year, chasing glimpses of orcas through his lens.

This rare white orca is having a whale of a time in the ocean, as it's splashing frolics were caught on camera by an eagle-eyed onlooker. Freelance nature photographer Noriyuki Hayakawa, 64, was amazed to spot the striking white orca whale - one of only five or six known in existence - off the coast of Rausu, on the Japanese volcanic island of Hokkaido.

Hayakawa, 64, a freelance snapper based in Sapporo, has spent the past 15 years documenting the majestic orca population around Japan. But nothing prepared him for what he experienced that day on a tourist boat in the icy northern waters as he recalled: "My legs were shaking with excitement.

"I started with very basic equipment, but I knew I had to get serious," he said. "The more time I spent out there, the more I realized how important these moments are — not just for me, but for everyone who loves nature."

To those aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Hayakawa offers heartfelt advice: "There are many great things about continuing for a long time and putting in the effort.

"Even if you don't see results right away, the benefits of putting in the time are great."