ME AND SOMETHING

My name is Keiichi Nitta. You all probably know me from the fashion feature I shot for Vice Magazine a while back so I really shouldn’t need to introduce myself. For those hermits out there who have no life though, I’ll say briefly that I’m a photographer working in Japan. Before that, I was Terry Richardson’s assistant for 7 years.

After much debate as to what I should do for my monthly page in Vice Magazine, I decided to show you guys the self-portraits that I’ve been shooting since I was a little kid. For a long time I’ve been shooting photos of myself, not only with friends and family, but also in front of scenes and objects that I encounter in daily life. I guess it’s my way of saying “thanks” to all the things that give me power–by shooting heaps and heaps of photos of them!

Seeing as I live in Japan right now, I’m going to feature self-portraits of myself, alive and well, with all the cool stuff that I’ve seen in this country. It’s like killing two birds with one stone: I get more energized by shooting lots of photos, and you, the readers, get energized by their awesomeness! I would be so stoked if this page makes you guys want to be in a photo with me. And maybe after I’m done with shooting self-portraits all over Japan, I’ll move onto shooting myself at world heritage sites for this series or something! Self-portraiture is my destiny. It’s what I was born to do. I’m not going to stop until I die. They say I was born with a camera in my hands, and that’s no easy feat!

I shot this after a fashion shoot. The kanji characters here say yoroshiku (meaning “thanks/kind regards” in Japanese), but it’s spelled in a way that typical Japanese delinquents in the 80s and 90s used as a joke. This here was written by a famous Japanese model! It’s such an old word, I’m surprised she knew it. I should get a 夜露死苦 tattoo.

This is at a crossing in Omotesando. I was walking by when this car suddenly came hurtling towards me! This guy must have been seriously seeking attention, crashing into the middle of Omotesando like that. He should have just walked around butt naked.

I shot this when I went to Mongolia for a job. It was freezing, often hovering below minus 10 degrees, but the air was clean and I saw some amazing landscapes. By the way, did you know that eating goat makes you horny? Man, imagine chasing that with Viagra!!!

This Tutankhamen popped up out of nowhere as I was walking in Aoyama. He insisted that he wanted a photo with me so I grudgingly obliged. I said no when he asked for an autograph though!

This is in the toilet at Fukuzushi in Koto ward. It’s the best sushi restaurant in the whole world. I usually spend about 15 minutes in this toilet getting friendly with the girl on the wall. I eat at Fukuzushi at least once a month because it’s so mind-blowingly good!! Plus, the sushi chef is such a character. Oh man, I want to go there right now.

My kitchen sink full of fish, after one of my monthly fishing trips! We caught a lot this day. Fishing is such a guy thing, it’s so much fun. For my next fishing trip I want to go on a bit of an expedition. Anybody know any good spots?

This is Peko-chan, the famous mascot of a Japanese confectionary company. She’s such an idol. Look how friendly she is. Her eyes are so shiny, I don’t even need to use the flash! And see that little tongue sticking out? So sexy. She’ll grow up to be one foxy lady.

I shot this during my time off when I went to Kyoto for work. That’s Buddha right there! Feel his presence, it’s amazing! You should all go and take a portrait with Buddha too. It’ll bring you good luck. Not as much luck as taking a photo with me though. Ha!

KEIICHI NITTA