Discovering the Visionary Lens of Keizō Kitajima: A Photographer You Must Know

You might have encountered the renowned Comme des Garçons campaigns captured in New York during the mid-90s, but it’s time to become familiar with the street photographer who is the creative mind behind them.

The Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima is recognized worldwide for his urban street photographs, portraying local inhabitants as they navigate the streets of Tokyo, New York, and Eastern Europe. His confrontational approach continues to be a testament to the snapshots of humanity and simplicity even today.

As a prominent figure in 20th-century Japanese photography, Kitajima has produced several photobooks, participated in numerous exhibitions, and earned various accolades over the years. His body of work includes documenting protests at a United States Airforce base in Okinawa, Japan, highlighting its impacts on the local society, to capturing raw street imagery in NYC and his 1979 innovative exploration of Shunjuku’s nightlife titled “Photo Express”.

His raw aesthetic served as the basis for his partnership with Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. Kawakubo’s deconstructive style aligned perfectly with Kitajima’s unrefined philosophy of urban life, resulting in striking, genuine photographs that fused the unique aesthetics of both Comme des Garçons and Kitajima. Observing a non-fashion photographer capturing a fashion campaign is always fascinating, as the images possess an authentic quality that may not exclusively represent the garments but rather encapsulate the essence of his subjects wearing them.

All shared images by Keizō Kitajima

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