From April 1st (Wednesday), the "ART UP" section on the 2nd floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building will host "scenes in mind," a photo exhibition by photographer Junpei Osugi. After studying photography and art in London, he returned to Japan and is currently active in a wide range of media, including magazines and advertising. Furthermore, in February of this year, he received the Public Award at "THE EDITORS PHOTO AWARD ZOOMS JAPAN 2020," making him one of the most talked-about creators today. We interviewed him about what inspired him to start photography and his thoughts on the exhibition.

What is important for a photographer is something that becomes clear precisely because they don't choose their subjects.

—My interest in photography began with a trip to Thailand and Vietnam after graduating from high school.

"Until then, I had only ever played soccer, so I was a complete novice when it came to cameras. I had a manual camera, so I started learning from more experienced photographers. I took pictures on location, but most of them were blurry or had the exposure wrong. However, when I was printing them in the darkroom, I had this strange feeling that the atmosphere and sounds of the time I took the photos were all coming back to me. That's when I started to love photography even more. Also, I realized how much the world can expand when you have a camera as a form of communication, even when you don't speak the language while traveling."

—After that, he studied photography in England. However, after returning to Japan, he struggled to make a living as a photographer, and at one point he even considered giving up. But the Great East Japan Earthquake made him forget about that idea.


"I was involved in relief activities with an NPO, so I was going to deliver relief supplies. During that time, I took pictures of the scenery within a 20-kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant, and through those photos, I had many encounters. When I realized that photographs can bring joy to people, I felt a renewed sense of importance and fulfillment. When I met residents in the disaster-stricken areas, I heard that even if they spoke to the media, only a portion of it would be used. So I thought that I needed to think more about what kind of photographs I should take to convey their words, and what kind of photographs would effectively communicate their message. It was a very valuable learning experience for me."

—Since Junpei's father is actor Ren Osugi, he could have chosen to become an actor as well.

"Yes, there were certainly discussions about that. But acting was a profession my father pioneered, and I felt it would be wrong for me to just jump on the bandwagon. I knew from watching my father that it wasn't an easy world where you could just start and succeed. Also, I remember thinking back then that the people around my father were, in a way, a bit unusual. For example, there were times when my father and his friends would be drinking when I went to bed at night, and when I woke up in the morning, they would still be drinking in the same place (laughs). I had the feeling that 'these people are interesting.'"

—While many photographers these days specialize in specific genres such as fashion, landscapes, or food, Mr. Osugi's subjects are wide-ranging.


"In my case, I don't have many specific preferences. I just hope that people can feel the passage of time, or the presence of people, somewhere in the scene. For example, I'm currently working on a project for the Park Hyatt Kyoto hotel, and not only the entire building, but every single item used there has been the work of skilled craftsmen. Also, rather than limiting myself to a specific subject, I learn so much by photographing a variety of things. I feel like everything important as a photographer is ultimately connected. When I think about it that way, I feel like I learn more by photographing a variety of things."

—So, what kind of moments make you want to take a photograph, Mr. Osugi?


"When I look back at the photos I've taken, I might reflect on them, but when I'm actually taking them, I'm not really thinking about a lot of things; I think I'm just in a state of mind. If I'm using models or working on a creative process, I think about a lot of things, but I often take photos in the city, and the things and people I encounter in the city are natural, not something I create, so what's important is how that person exists. If I had to say, I might think about what I feel when I see them, for example, when they're looking to the side, or I might be chasing something from my own memories, so I tend to express my feelings more after taking the photo than before. Conversations start when I show the photos I've taken. Things like, 'Where are you from?' or 'I can send them to you if you'd like.' I enjoy those spontaneous encounters."

NEXT>A work that offers a glimpse into the natural, everyday life that breathes life into the streets of New York.