Photographing Japanese chefs who understand tradition deeply enough to break it. On assignment for Virtuoso, The Magazine, I explored the tension between reverence and innovation in some of Tokyo’s top restaurants.

Every January 1st, I join thousands of people on the beach before dawn to photograph hatsuhinode—the first sunrise of the New Year in Japan. Here's what I've learned about shooting in low light, finding authentic moments, and starting the year with intention.

On assignment for The Wall Street Journal’s Mansions section, I photographed an engawa-inspired home designed by Florian Busch Architects on Japan’s Izu Peninsula. With a short deadline and shifting weather, the shoot demanded communication, precision, and a wide range of storytelling tools. The result was a well-rounded document of the home, reflecting both the owner’s vision and the landscape that inspired it.

Photographers face endless choices in the field—gear, settings, framing, timing. This post explores how visual discipline and self-imposed limits can sharpen your vision, simplify your workflow, and lead to stronger, more consistent images.

This week is Obon, a mid-August Japanese holiday honoring the spirits of the ancestors. In Fujisawa, evenings are filled with the sound of taiko as our neighborhood prepares for the Kugenuma Kotaijingu Reitaisai, an annual shrine festival and drum battle that I’ve documented for the past 10 years. See my ongoing personal project photographing Japan’s matsuri culture.

Covering the Murasaki Shonan Open in Fujisawa brought me back to where my surf photography began more than a decade ago. What started as a personal project–photographing surfers along the Shonan coast–has become a recurring thread in my work, influencing everything from story development to aesthetics. A look at how my visual exploration of Japan’s surf culture has shaped my editorial and travel photography.

As a photographer based in Japan, I spend a lot of time in hotels, from simple business stays to historic ryokan and high-end retreats. I started compiling a mental list of some of my favorite places, so I’ve decided to write about a few of them here in the hopes of inspiring travelers to include them on their itinerary. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, eat, or simply experience the best of omotenashi, the accommodations on this list are definitely worth checking out.

Japan’s highly skilled workforce and advanced manufacturing capabilities make it an attractive location for U.S. firms to source production. As an industrial factory photographer based near Tokyo, I frequently work with U.S. and other international companies operating facilities in Japan.

When editors at National Geographic Traveller (UK) approached me with a proposal for a five-day train trip to photograph northeastern Japan, I was immediately on board.