The Japanese photographer Keizo Kitajima was born in 1954. He was mentored by Daido Moriyama, one of the most renowned photographers in Japan.He produced many photographs documenting the '70s and '80s and won numerous awards.
Comme Des Garcons used his real-life photography for a perfume ad campaign in 1995 and it caused a sensation. Lately he has done fashion campaigns for brands such as Helmut Lang and Prada. All the books he published have become collector’s items and are very hard to obtain. In recent years his work has attracted attention from the next generation through the internet.
Kitajima rarely makes public appearances but finally broke his silence to speak with photographer Luis Sanchis (whom I interviewed previously).
1: Do you have any thoughts on advertisement photography versus fashion
photography?
K I'm surprised that I've been asked for fashion photos.
2 : From my point of view, you seem to be attracted to American culture.
Do you see a connection between Japanese and American culture?
K As you know, after World War II, the United States occupied Japan and
had a great influence on the Japanese from politics to culture. Personally,
I think I was strongly influenced by American pop culture.
3 : Do you have your own photo style? Where did it come from, if any?
K I always try not to have my own style. I'm enjoying street snapshots for
the first time in a while through fashion photography.
4 : What is the interesting part of a photo? Do you like other visual arts?
K Taking a picture deepens your experience. Currently, I don't have any favorite art.
5 : How do you see yourself and your work?
K The pictures I took are also others who teach me various things. In the process of making prints, I learn most from photography.
6 : Is there anything you haven't had the opportunity to do that you want to focus on in the future?
K Apart from fashion photography, there is a theme that I have been working on for a long time. We have been and will continue to focus on it.
7 : Do you feel that you have achieved your best shots so far?
K I have never thought so.
8 : Is there any difference between the excited feeling of shooting from when you first started versus now?
K I don't think it has changed much. However, it does not originally seek physical excitement.
9 : Are there any photographs that have reached a level of achievement towards your own purpose, so far?
K Unfortunately, there isn't.
10 : Are there any memorable moments or interesting situations that have happened while working on an assignment/project?
K When you look back at the pictures you took on the street from when you were young. The people and things captured in them now seem to be very important.
11 : Looking back on your current self and your past self from the 1980s, is there anything that you think has changed?
K I don't think I've changed mentally, but I feel that I’m aging.
12 : What if you could choose another profession?
K If you have such a profession, I would try it.
“As you know, after World War II, the United States occupied Japan and had a great influence on the Japanese from politics to culture. Personally, I think I was strongly influenced by American pop culture”
September 2020
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