We watch documentaries to question the reality we believe in. 

I am an independent director with a masters degree in anthropology.

Growing up in the mountain at the foot of Mt. Fuji with an almost self-sufficient garden, I later studied in the megacity of Tokyo as well as in an inspiring town of Berkeley, California. I had opportunities to travel around South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe. I grew to see the reality from multiple perspectives, which I believe is shaping my attitude toward documentary making.

After working for a documentary production mainly produced for Japan’s state-owned broadcaster NHK, I became independent. I co-founded a Tokyo-based production, ASHI FILMS in 2016, that has provided for CNN’s Great Big Story, VICE Media, Netflix, PBS, Yahoo! JAPAN, Amazon Audible etc. In my company, I direct as well as produce documentaries, branded videos and podcasts.

In 2023, I moved from Japan to Missoula, Montana, USA.

My first independent documentary, “In the Eyes of Children, “ took place in Greece when refugees flooded the country in 2017. At the time, the world was overwhelmed by the phenomenon, but the reality of the local citizen came down to this: will you lend your hand to those in need, or will you close your eyes and shut the door so you won’t see the suffering of the refugees? In the documentary, I focused on the local greek photographer who decided to hold cinema night for kids in the refugee camp, which brightened their harsh reality.

My second independent documentary, “BOZE“, took place on the island of Akusekijima with a population of 80, where they hold an annual festival with a visually striking mask diety. The diety is the symbol of acceptance, and in fact, the boy who plays the role of diety was the very person who has the past of being accepted into the community.