This cat

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
Besides my habit of constantly documenting daily life and regularly doing portrait sessions, I’ve recently been preparing a project titled “Sitting with the World.”

I’ve always been drawn to the act of sitting. Sitting implies trust in an environment, a willingness to stay, to spend time. It can be for working, thinking, reading, talking, or simply doing nothing. To sit is to allow yourself to belong, even temporarily.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
Shooting on film has been a process of learning to trust.

In the beginning, I doubted every shot I took. Now, each click feels more certain. Film has also changed the way I collaborate with people; it becomes a quiet bridge of trust between photographer and subject. Each roll accumulates that trust slowly.

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
The word that stayed with me is “潺潺 (murmuring).”

In Chinese, it’s often used to describe the gentle sound of flowing water. I feel my images resemble that, flowing softly into an environment without demanding attention, blending quietly like water.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Nomadland by Chloé Zhao deeply influenced me. The line “There’s no final goodbye” continues to echo in my mind.

The places we visit and the people we meet may only happen once. That awareness makes me cherish every frame I take. Those shared moments become private images, not as possessions, but as traces of something that will never repeat. So for me, it’s never truly goodbye.

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
Choosing equipment.

I try to travel light, but recently I bought an old digital camera and became fascinated by its low-resolution texture. When carrying multiple cameras, decision-making becomes difficult in the moment. I’m still figuring out how to balance instinct and choice.

What is your favorite coffee shop and why do you like going there?
I often work in cafés, so my favorites share similar qualities: outlets, Wi-Fi, no time limit, and good coffee :)

Recently, I’ve been enjoying Amber in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo. The space is bright and open, with large windows where you can see trains passing by. Their latte is also very good.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
It would be called “This Cat.” On social media, I sometimes go by “Mr. Cat Pisces.” I suppose I resemble a cat: restless, hard to read, nocturnal, occasionally cute. The soundtrack would be “Cool Cat” from Schoolgirl Byebye.

Which studios, laboratories, or workshops have you collaborated with recently or would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Recently, I’ve really enjoyed developing and scanning film at Sanpou Camera in Tokyo. I think I’ll keep going back.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
Hideaki Hamada once said, “People are too good at forgetting, so I started photographing.” That sentence stays with me.