The Path Revealed Through Relentless Photography | Photographer Mitsuru Wakabayashi | ISSUE #19

Mitsuru Wakabayashi spent eight years in the apparel industry as a store manager and visual merchandiser for a denim brand. However, upon turning thirty, he decided to embark on a new journey into the world of photography. Now recognized as a photographer based in Kyoto with a global presence, his path has been marked by numerous challenges and a relentless dedication to his craft.

“When I turned thirty, I decided to leave the apparel industry simply because I realized I didn’t know much about the world outside,” Mitsuru recalls. To broaden his horizons, he chose to go on a working holiday at that time.

With a self-imposed deadline of thirty, Mitsuru felt he couldn’t make excuses later and needed to act immediately. On his thirtieth birthday, he resigned and returned to his family home in Kyoto. He spent a year saving money for his working holiday, and just before turning thirty-one, he set off for Canada. During this period, he began taking photos as a hobby—an unexpected starting point for his career as a photographer.

Living solely to save money felt stifling, so Mitsuru sought a hobby. The manager of his favorite coffee shop recommended the SONY α7. Thinking it would be useful during his working holiday, he purchased the camera.

He started by posting daily snapshots on Instagram as a hobby. Unexpectedly, he was featured as a “recommended user” on Instagram, and his followers quickly surpassed 10,000. Posting casually became difficult, but this also made him more conscious of Instagram as an outlet for his daily photography, motivating him to continue shooting every day.

When it came time for his working holiday, Mitsuru chose Toronto, Canada—a city close to New York, offering both fashionable culture and the vast Canadian wilderness. He continued his Japanese routine of shooting and posting photos daily, finding the experience exhilarating. Upon returning to Japan, however, he found himself lacking the motivation to return to the apparel industry. “I went back to my roots and asked myself what I truly wanted to do,” he reflects.

During this period, a senior acquaintance asked him to do a shoot. It was his first paid photography job, and it made him realize the possibility of making a living as a photographer. The journey was not smooth from the start—there were times when he barely scraped by. However, as he continued to shoot, more commissions came in, and the path to success as a photographer began to take shape.

One day, Mitsuru received a commission to photograph Kifune Shrine in Kyoto. This assignment became a pivotal moment in his career. Kifune Shrine, with its history dating back to the Heian period, is a site of great cultural significance, and the shoot was important for archival purposes.

“When I reconsidered why I became a photographer, I realized it was because I was simply captivated by photography and kept shooting. In this era where digital archives endure, I want to continue photographing with passion and sincerity, without exaggeration, and preserve these moments,” Mitsuru reflects.

—Recently, Mitsuru held his first solo exhibition, ‘Mitsuru Wakabayashi Photo Exhibition #01’. The show featured film displayed on light tables, inviting viewers to peer through the finder, evoking the joy of photography. The immersive and dynamic exhibition was a great success. With ‘#01’ marking a new beginning, we eagerly anticipate the future of his creative journey.

After his first solo exhibition, ‘Mitsuru Wakabayashi Photo Exhibition #01’, what are Mitsuru’s thoughts and feelings?

“Through this exhibition, I was reminded of the importance of presenting printed photographs. While I aim to hold a ‘#02’, my fundamental approach remains unchanged. If I have time, I’ll shoot; if I have a break, I’ll travel abroad with a prime lens in hand. I will continue to photograph and always carry my camera,” Mitsuru shares about his future outlook.

When asked about future destinations, he mentions a recent interest in southern France, Portugal, and India. “I don’t want to photograph things that make me sad,” he says, smiling as he expresses his desire to capture gentle, uplifting scenes. We look forward to seeing the works Mitsuru continues to create.