Akane in Tokyo: An Interview on Identity, Style, and Kagurazaka
After exploring Akane’s presence through two distinct style chapters in the streets of Kagurazaka, it was time to step to her side of the lens. This interview is the latest installment of my ongoing series, “My Style. My City. My Story.”
The core philosophy behind this series is simple: a portrait is never just about the aesthetic or the backdrop. It is a space where personal style, memory, place, and identity meet. The city brings its own rhythm, but the subject brings her own history. Somewhere between the two, an honest story begins to emerge.
For Akane, that story belongs deeply to the streets of Kagurazaka.
Kagurazaka: A Living Archive of Memory
We chose Kagurazaka because it is a Tokyo neighborhood where Akane actually lived. It holds the different chapters of her life: the town she admired in her teens, the streets she explored in her twenties, and the place she fully claimed in her thirties.
That deep, personal history shaped the two initial stories from our collaboration:
The Quiet Memory: In “Akane in Tokyo: White Dress Editorial Photoshoot in the Streets of Kagurazaka”, we focused on quiet elegance. Moving through quiet stone paths and shifting shadows, Akane brought an emotional center and timeless elegance to the neighborhood.
The Modern Energy: In “Akane in Tokyo: A Story of Harmony and Tension in the Streets of Kagurazaka”, the narrative shifted. Her vibrant teal styling created a sharp, confident contrast against the ordinary, industrial surfaces of the city.
Same streets. Same model. A completely different pulse.
Photoshoot Credits
Note: Akane is currently planning a creative visit to the San Francisco Bay Area. Photographers, designers, and brands interested in booking a session or arranging a studio or street collaboration can reach out to her directly through Instagram.
The Interview
In the full interview below, Akane reflects on her unique artistic journey, self-expression, and what it means to belong to a city.
Part 1: From Sound to Silence: Beginnings and Artistic Evolution
How did your modeling work begin?
Before I started modeling, I was a Japanese taiko drum performer. I performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and also overseas. I wanted to study expression from many different angles, so I began standing in front of the camera.
Was there a special moment that made you want to continue modeling seriously?
It was when I saw photos that had been taken of me and felt very strongly inside myself that they were wonderful.
What do you find most attractive about standing in front of the camera?
The most attractive part of standing in front of the camera is that I can meet many different versions of myself within me. When I was playing taiko, I expressed myself through sound. Now I can express myself through light, my gaze, and my whole body. The moments when I can speak without words feel very free, and it is fun to discover a new version of myself each time.
How would you describe your own style as a model?
I think my style is “quiet passion.” While keeping the strength and sense of rhythm that I developed through taiko in my body, I aim for an elegant and natural impression. Not too flashy, but with a presence that has a strong core. I value that kind of balance, where I blend into the city, but still catch the eye in certain moments.
I heard that you have visited several countries for modeling work. Which countries have you worked in so far?
So far, I have worked as a model in Croatia, Indonesia, and Taipei.
Part 2: Global Perspectives, Personal Growth, and Creative Mindset
Is there a country or city that has been especially memorable for you as a model?
Miyakojima, Japan, has been especially memorable for me as a model.
Through traveling as a model, have you learned anything about yourself?
Through traveling as a model, what I have learned about myself is that I am someone who can put down roots properly, even when I am alone.
During overseas shoots, even when I am in an environment where communication is difficult because of the language, or when I am suddenly placed in an unfamiliar city, once I stand in front of the camera, my senses naturally become sharper. I feel that the ability to focus on the moment, which I developed when I was playing taiko, protects me even when I am traveling. My curiosity began to become stronger than my anxiety, and as a result, I realized that I am surprisingly tough and adaptable. I feel that with each trip, I have become more able to trust myself.
Are there any countries or cities where you would like to model in the future?
I would love to model in Greece, Paris, San Francisco, Cappadocia, Slovakia, Finland, Poland, London, Edinburgh, and Italy in the future.
What types of shoots do you like most, such as fashion, beauty, editorial, street style, or lifestyle?
I like all of them, but I especially like street style. I also like situational styles that recreate a scene from an action movie or a love story movie.
What is important for you during a shoot so that you can relax and express yourself naturally?
I try to find, in my own way, the good qualities of the photographer, the good qualities of the location, and the beautiful points of the clothing. By exploring these things myself, my own story begins. When that happens, my awareness turns toward my own senses, I can relax, and I can focus on expression.
Part 3: The Soul of Kagurazaka and Wardrobe Inspiration
For this shoot in Kagurazaka, you chose two outfits. What was the reason or inspiration behind those choices?
Kagurazaka is a town where tradition and modern life both breathe, and people of many different ages are in the town. There are many people who come to the town for fun, and also many people who live there. What they have in common is that they love this town.
For the first outfit, I imagined a person who comes to the town for fun. Kagurazaka still has the culture of hanamachi, which is part of old Japanese culture. Because Kagurazaka is near the National Diet Building and major publishing companies, both in the past and now, politicians, business people, and cultural figures have meals while having important conversations at high class restaurants in Kagurazaka. Rather than everyday life, I expressed the glamorous excitement of a town that makes your heart flutter when you want to enjoy a little luxury, through an elegant top. I respected the history of this high quality town, which has continued to respond to the sensibilities of great people, and expressed that through an intelligent color palette.
For the second outfit, I imagined a person who lives in the town. It is an off white dress. While preserving tradition, the wind of a new era moves the long flared skirt, and I chose a natural off white color that blends into the town as if living there.
I went on many dates with my boyfriend in Kagurazaka. Kagurazaka was where I first gathered the courage to walk into a stylish bar. After living in Kagurazaka, I learned for the first time the joy of communicating with people in the neighborhood. After living in Kagurazaka, I learned the happiness of living in a town I love. When I found out I was sick, Kagurazaka was where I walked home from the hospital while crying. In Kagurazaka, someone had thrown away a full length mirror, and I secretly took it home. I still use it now. Kagurazaka was also where I spent the coronavirus pandemic. I worked part time at a restaurant in Kagurazaka, and at 2:00 in the morning, completely exhausted, I finally climbed the hill in Kagurazaka and walked home. I opened my own cafe in Kagurazaka. It is closed now. My Japanese taiko drum is kept at a music studio in Kagurazaka.
Kagurazaka holds countless memories for me.
How did each outfit express a different side of your personality or style?
My university was in this town, so I had admired this town since I was a university student. After becoming an adult, because of work, I made many friends in this town. I found more and more shops that I love in this town. I also began helping with festivals and local events in this town. I am very happy that I was able to blend into this town as a model.
When choosing outfits for a shoot, what do you usually think about?
Basically, I place importance on understanding the wishes and preferences of the photographer or client. After that, I choose outfits that match the shooting location and the season. I often think about what overall color tone would look beautiful once it becomes a photograph.
This shoot took place in Kagurazaka, where you used to live. What kind of place is Kagurazaka to you?
In my teens, it was “the town I admired.”
In my twenties, it was “a place to explore.”
In my thirties, it became “my place.”
What do you especially like about the atmosphere of Kagurazaka?
I like the contrast of people gathering and meeting in search of delicious food, and light shining into the achromatic townscape of black walls and stone pavement.
Part 4: Returning Home and Future Horizons
How did you feel when you returned to that town for the shoot?
Because it is my town, I felt calm.
Was there a moment from this shoot that especially stayed in your mind?
Against the low saturation townscape, the fashion of the first outfit stood out vividly. When I saw it on the camera monitor, I felt very happy.
Among your modeling work so far, what has been one of your favorite projects, and why?
Shoots with photographers who came from overseas. This is because I want to work as a model overseas.
Are there any creative projects you would like to challenge yourself with in the future?
A nude photograph with frogs covering my whole body.
A challenge where I cannot return home until I have photographed with 100 people in cities around the world. Maybe 100 people is too many, perhaps around 10 people.
A collaborative work with overseas models that shows us exchanging traditional clothing and lifestyles.
What would you be happy for people to feel or understand when they see your photos?
I want them to feel, “I want to try taking photos like this too!”
Final Thoughts: Where the Place Lives Inside
Reading Akane’s reflections made me appreciate the shoot even more. What I had felt through the camera had a deeper story behind it. The calm, the strength, the profound sense of belonging. The way she could move through the city as both subject and storyteller is exactly what “My Style. My City. My Story.” is about. It is not just about photographing someone in a location, but discovering what happens when the place already lives inside them.
What story does your style tell in your city?
For brands, designers, models, and other creatives looking to create inspiring imagery, let’s connect. From fashion editorials to runway coverage to publishing your work, let’s explore how fashion and storytelling intersect, and where your next project might lead.
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