0
hellobonjourparis
( 03 )( ©19 )

( Pen MagazineTokyo Craftsmen )

Editorial film series
/ INTRO

We collaborated with PEN magazine on a four-part film series profiling modern craftsmen in Tokyo.

Working with international creatives based in Tokyo, we captured the ever-changing Japanese craftsmanship landscape, which evolves and stays relevant throughout time.

role
  • Conception
  • Video Production
  • Creative Direction
deliverableFour-part film series Editorial Social media assets
dateJul 19
( 01 )
/ CONCEPT
Highlighting the work process of Tokyo’s finest craftsmen

We collaborated with PEN Online on a four-part film series profiling modern contemporary craftsmen in Tokyo. As our respective brands cater to a different demographic and aesthetic, the challenge was to tell compelling visual stories while maintaining each other’s unique style and aesthetic. We succeeded in communicating the raw passion and will that these individuals possess in a highly cinematic and impactful way.

( 02 )
/ ART DIRECTION
Visceral and Cinematic with a Novel Approach

Collaborating with such a reputable and esteemed publication such as PEN was an exciting honour but posed a few challenges. For one, our demographic and general aesthetic are quite different, with poweredby.tokyo being on the darker, underground side and PEN being more high-brow and sophisticated. We knew we could find a middle ground. As poweredby.tokyo is focused on contemporary urban culture, it was important to find craftsman that fit this principle. Bikes, neon, kaleidoscopes, and indigo, the latter getting a pass for its resurgence in popular fashion, were to be communicated in a new and fresh manner. The traditional approach to documentary profiles are tried and tired, so we made a strong effort do something different. We dug deep into the psychology of the ‘shokunin’ and communicated this in a very visual manner, transferring their intense energy and focus into the direction of the film.

( 03 )
  • VISCERAL
  • CINEMATIC
  • URBAN
  • VISCERAL
  • CINEMATIC
  • URBAN
“ We dug deep into the psychology of the ‘shokunin’ (the artisan) and expanded his philosophy into a visual universe. “

/ ASAKO TOMOTANI
/ PART 1
‘Bespoke Bike’: Bike frame builder, Konno-san

In the first episode, we featured legendary bike frame builder Shinnichi Konno, of CHERUBIM. We captured not only the process and art of bespoke bike making, but also the psychology behind such dedication.

( 04 )
“ I feel privileged to take part in the creation of this most marvelous of human inventions. It is my purpose. “

/ Shinichi Konno
/ PART 2
‘Master of glass’: Kaleidoscope maker, Yamami-san

After a chance encounter with a kaleidoscope in Los Angeles while studying art, Koji Yamami went on to dedicate his life to perfecting the art form while becoming one of its most prominent ambassadors. With a strong cult following in the US, Yamami is renowned for his seamless marriage of traditional Japanese craft and modern kaleidoscope art. He gives us an intimate look inside the beauty of light and mirrors at his Daikanyama atelier.

( 06 )
“ They were originally popular as toys in Japan. But what I make is not a toy, but a piece of art. “

/ Koji Yamami
/ PART 3
‘Urban Glow’: Neon master, Takahashi-san

Hidenobu Takahashi's passion for neon goes back to his childhood as he would gaze in awe and wonder at the warm glow of the streets of Yokohama. His fascination for American culture and hip hop music are a heavy influence on his work; a fact made evident the second you step into his studio, where he has set up shop for the last 17 years. To Takahashi San, neon is more than just a job or a signboard; it's a culture and a lifestyle.

( 07 )
“ My passion for American culture fueled my interest in signboards and neon signs. “

/ Hidenobu Takahashi
/ PART 4
‘Blue Romance’: Murata Noriyuki

Indigo master Noriyuki Murata has been perfecting his craft for the better part of his life deep in the hills of a sleepy town 80 minutes northwest of Tokyo. A third generation dyer, where in Japan they are considered national treasures, Murata san’s stained blue hands show unwavering passion and dedication to a craft that many worry is danger of disappearing as demand exceeds supply. Murata san likens his relationship to indigo to that of a woman, unpredictable and a constant learning experience.

( 08 )
“ I want to show just how superior the methods and techniques from the Edo era are compared to modern chemical dying. “

/ Noriyuki Murata
/ CREDITS
  • Director: Artem Skiy
  • Creative Director: Chace Fedor
  • Art Director: Chace Fedor
  • Director of Photography: Artem Skiy
  • Translator: Asako Tomotani
  • Editor: Artem Skiy
  • Styling: Chace Fedor
  • Producer: Asako Tomotani
  • Executive Producer: Chace Fedor
  • Illustrator: Jeremy Hannigan
  • Colourist: Artem Skiy
  • Visual Effects: Artem Skiy
( 00 )