As a child I loved to take photos of cars and motorcycles and my earliest memory of photography is of going to the Tokyo Motor Show when I was ten. I was really enthusiastic and shot a lot of pictures but because film was so expensive I got into trouble with my mother.
I learnt photography while studying at the Nihon University College of Art.
My first professional assignment was covering a movie premiere in 1996. I was completely absorbed by the job, but was more pleased at meeting my favourite actress than with my photography.
I will never forget the earthquake and tsunami in 2011; it was one of the worst disasters my country has faced and left a profound mark on me. I had never seen hundreds of dead bodies in a day, or so many dead children who looked like my kids. I was also impressed by the bravery and determination of people who had lost absolutely everything.
I love covering sports, especially the Olympics and the soccer World Cup, because they are the world’s biggest sporting events.
For me, photography is all about prediction - you have to press the shutter before the moment happens.
I’ve learnt the most from small day-to-day mistakes.
I respect modest, quiet photographers, this is what I aspire to.
