Based in Toyko, Japan, R̸K̸ (@rkrkrk) is a professional photographer who has developed an expertise in running culture, architecture, and portraiture/fashion photography. His predominant style of urban photography represents the density of Asian life. Other subjects he shoots include more traditional representations of Japan such as the cherry blossoms and temples.
Besides representing an Asian running culture, R̸K̸’s photographs represent the traditions of the Japanese people. He said, “I think the history and traditional cultures of each country are very important in taking realistic photographs.”
Focused on living his life to the fullest, he doesn’t take any opportunity for granted, having visited at least ten countries. His experience as a DJ has also influenced his work as a professional photographer.
In a recent Instagram post, he notes “You’ll never know what you’ll be facing until [you’ve] reached the top of the tower. So just go inside and fight for it.” And everyday he spends behind the camera is a day that he’s fighting to live out his dream.
Welcome RK! You have shared so many unique moments! I will ask you one simple question first: What motivated you to pick a camera in the first place and what is driving you nowadays?
In 2013, I joined the Tokyo urban running crew “AFE TOKYO” to lose weight. And the founder of running crew asked me to take photos for crew members while running. This prompted me to begin taking and editing photos. My photography of street scenery, portraits, and other themes began gaining media attention in 2014, both locally in Japan and internationally. The attention led to my work being selected as a “suggested user” from the Instagram official account.
My humble beginnings with snapping iPhone photos, led me to receiving an invitation from Apple to hold photography workshops in their Ginza storefront. I’ve since moved into using DSLR for my work, and in 2017 held my first exhibition at FR2 gallery in Shibuya.
You’re a DJ by trade, how does music influence your photography work?
Most of the fashion culture come from music industry. I think it’s very important to take fashion photographs after understanding that. I’ve been influenced by all those people who picked up the location and appeared in the background.
Your style blends showcasing modern architecture with traditional costumes or history. Would you say that your country’s rich history has influenced your style? How so?
I think the history and traditional cultures of each country are very important in taking realistic photographs. So my photography represents it.
Your earlier work on Instagram features more monotone colors while predominantly featuring architectural design. What has your evolution been as a photographer like?
When I took the photo of an old man who’s selling electric components in Akihabara, and I peeped through the viewfinder, I recognized that information captured on the screen became very interesting. So I began to take pictures of this “dense” style, which predominantly captures the intensity and density of Asian urban life.
What is your favorite subject to shoot?
I guess cherry blossoms and temples. On Instagram, these kinds of photos tend to be popular and especially right now, there is a lot of attention on Tokyo. So, I think that is why I take those photos, but actually, to be perfectly honest, I don’t like Japan or Japanese people. I don’t have that pride for being Japanese.
I just think they are not as nice to foreigners as they come off to be. I think that they actually build a lot of walls around foreignness. But you know, I know this is not only Japan that other countries feel and think the same way. People don’t say it, but I guess, just because I am Japanese and this is my country that is how I feel.
Do you have any picture that you really like? Which is your favorite photo?
Actually, I don’t like any one of my works. I think all the photos I took are bad. There’s still a long way to go for my photography technique.
What are the three most valuable personal lessons you have learned traveling?
(1) Adapt to your surroundings: I really thought that going to foreign countries that understanding English and Chinese were important.
(2) Live life in the moment: I guess I want to say that every day is just another day. I have always thought that China has delicious food…I don’t really think deeply about it, I just think “I want to go eat” and “I want to take pictures,” just live my life, that is really my basic answer.
(3) Explore other countries: Basically, I just have been going to these countries that were especially requested and considerably popular.
Imagine yourself at the beginning of your professional career as a photographer. What four pieces of advice would you give to yourself?
At the beginning of my career, I would ask myself to do more things such as:
· Take more pictures.
· Don’t waste any time, even sleeping.
· Do it best.
Is there any artist/photographer who has inspired your art? Can you name three?
Where will we find you 10 years from now?
I don’t really have something that I am thinking of at the moment. Only pictures. The pictures that I see sometimes, they are beautiful or cool, don’t get me wrong, but the photographer that took them, I just think that personality and style is disappointing or doesn’t match photo to photographer. There are a lot of people that only do photos, but they themselves are not fashionable and I would like to focus on improving my photos and fashion and keep those fields compatible. I would like to show pictures in their real form. I would like the photos to be a mixture of the digital world and the real world. I want to make the art look good or better than before. I don’t have a vision of what I want to be doing, I just think:
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