Keiichiro Nakajima is a photographer and director based in Japan, represented by a management and production company called Signo, Inc, which is one of the largest and leading artist management and production company in Japan. He has risen as one of the leading photographers in Japan, collaborated with major names in the world, such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tomorrowland, Vogue China, Vogue Turkey, Manifesto, 25ans, and Harper's UK to name a few. His fluency in English combined with his knowledge in their fashion and culture make him a unique photographer in Japan. After successful career as a DJ in New York City, working with many major brands such as Uniqlo, Seiko, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, and major hotels and clubs, he sharpened his eye for fashion and its underlying culture.

He practiced his trade shooting his friends during his trip to Paris, London, and Tokyo, after taking some film photography courses in college, and he crafted his easy going and sophisticated style through his meticulous planning for the shoot and sound ability to create his own atmosphere for each shoot.

-Interview-

How is your daily life in Japan? What's your daily routine?

I love going to a cafe in my neighborhood, "Daikanyama", in the morning. It's a unique area where it's convenient to access to Shibuya/Omotesando, but also not so crowded. There are many small shops for fresh vegetable and fish so easy to live without going anywhere else. 

I feel I am a bit less social in Japan, but often traveling to the countryside, almost every weekend if I don't have any jobs. Tokyo is very interesting city, but in the countryside, I always find very unique beauty of Japan, and it inspire my view and good to understand my roots deep down. 

How did you start photography? Why did you choose photography as your tool for expression?

While I was at the college in New York, I was studying mainly music, but after finishing most of the studio courses, I started taking some design and photography courses. As I liked working in the studio and creating something rather than studying music history and theories, I really enjoyed my time learning new equipments and programs to create something every week. Back then, I wasn't considering photography as a career as I always thought I should focus on music while I was younger. As I get older, and started to enjoy the memories of each city, culture, and people brands, I started to value the photography more and more. And everything started naturally for me. Photography and videography were always in my mind, especially I was overseas and free from work as a DJ.

What interest you the most, and what's your passion as a photographer?

I am interested in shooting anything, but I think my main interest is in people. I was always interested in meeting new people and understanding their culture and unique personalities. Even shooting the landscape or still life, I always try to reflect some character or emotion behind it. While I was younger, I was heavily into reading novels by Dostoevsky, Akutagawa, and Balzac. I think after living in New York and meeting many interesting people, I feel like I understand people from different background much more than before, and I enjoy capturing each person's character that connect to me in each occasions, and the creative process with many people and capturing a person to send some message.

What has been your career highlight to date?

My highlight will be to shoot with Chanel with Nana Komatsu for Chanel. It was very interesting to collaborate with Chanel crew in Paris and coordinate with Chanel Japan and Japanese production team here in Japan. Japan has a unique working system, so it was fun to find the difference between Japan and other countries. Likewise, it was great to shot with Louis Vuitton and Zara in Japan. Hope I can work with international brands in Japan, and I would also love to start working with Japanese brands in overseas after the travel restriction softens in the near future. I feel Japan has such a unique culture, and it will only improved further by collaborating more with different people from different culture. Me included.

After working with one of the top brands in the world of fashion, what is your next goal for your career?

I would love to travel more and collaborate with many new people, as well as continuing good relationship with my good friends and collaborators. After trying to make a music by myself in the room for many years, I really enjoy collaborating with new people and sharing different opinions. Hopefully, through each shoot, I would like to find a likeminded group of artists and try to influence the culture little by little. I also want to travel more after this pandemic and capture more interesting photos inspired by different culture and people.

EDITED BY KAREN YABUTA