About Katagi

I've been going to Japan every year since 2017. Usually for about a month, usually in a rented campervan, usually with more camera gear than clothes. What started as a holiday turned into something else: a slow, ongoing project to photograph the country I keep coming back to.

Katagi is the result of that. It's a collection of photographs, stories, and practical knowledge from years of driving through Japan. The places you'll find here range from well-known locations like Shirakawa-go and Nara to small fishing harbours, mountain passes, and roadside shrines that don't show up in any guidebook.

The name comes from the Japanese word for character or spirit. It felt right for a project that's less about ticking off sights and more about understanding what makes a place feel the way it does.

I'm based in Germany. When I'm not in Japan, I work as a consultant in marketing technology. The two worlds don't overlap much, which is probably why I need the contrast. Japan is where the screens go off and the camera comes out.

All photographs on this site are mine. If you have questions about locations, routes, or vanlife logistics in Japan, feel free to reach out.