The Monocle Book of Japan

“Japan may be one of the world’s biggest economies, a global leader in everything from architecture to food and a country whose brands have flourished around the world, but it remains a bit of a mystery. Somehow it is simultaneously familiar and hard to fathom – or it has been, until now. This book is the culmination of years of reporting across the country by Monocle and it delivers a unique insight into the people, places and products that define Japan.”

It felt only right to launch this blog with a project I’ve been working on with Monocle since moving to Japan in October 2019. As well as building on endless archive imagery from this incredible country, I was commissioned to shoot one my favourite Tokyo haunts, Daikanyama T-Site, an innovative new capsule hotel, 9 Hours Imperial Palace, a Ginza retail staple, Toraya Hats, and a behind the scenes insight into the Shinkansen. Not to forget my favourite of all, the transportation story – building on my love for Tokyo’s graphic identity and how vehicles in the city can tell that story, in all shapes, sizes and colours.

I will be sharing more from individual shoots on the blog in the coming weeks, but first, The Monocle Book of Japan.

“Whether you’re planning a visit or simply curious, The Monocle Book of Japan will unpack the nation for you. We’ll take you from snowy Hokkaido in the north to the tropical southern islands of Okinawa and, along the way, deep-dive into the worlds of culture, design, retail and more. It’s Japan revealed as never before.”

Buy your copy here
Find out more via monocle.com

Photography by Ben Richards and various

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