Ever since Joe Allam made his first visit to Japan back in 2014, he's been hooked to the country! Eager to learn more about a culture that resonates so deeply with the values he holds as a visual artist, Joe has made over a dozen trips back to Japan, each time unfurling something new to share through photographs and videos. We talk with Joe about his beginnings as an independent artist and the highlights of his Japan travels.
Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. To kick us off, please tell us a little about yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’m Joe, a photographer/filmmaker with a passion for travel and a background in graphic design. I post videos to YouTube sharing the journeys and stories behind my photography and creative endeavours around the world. I spend a huge amount of time in Japan and am currently here for 3 months reinvigorating my inspiration in the city that inspires me the most, Tokyo.
Capturing moments of the early morning commute in Ikebukuro, Tokyo
How did you get hooked onto photography and content creation? Please tell us about your early experiences with the camera and your influences.
I’ve had an interest in cameras and camcorders for most of my life. Photography was a side hobby for most of my career, when I was working as a designer, but I desperately wanted to change that. I was inspired by people like Chase Jarvis who shared behind the scenes videos as a commercial photographer from the very early days of YouTube. The lifestyle and work culture was something I was keen to create for myself.
When I turned freelance in design, I wanted to take on more professional photography gigs, so I started posting my own photography journeys to YouTube as a way of marketing my skills and passions. It started working and eventually the channel became big enough that I stopped taking on external design projects and have been independent with it since 2016.
We interviewed your partner, Elly from ellythings, a couple of weeks ago. Your turn now: where would you say your individual photography styles converge and where do they differ?
We both enjoy exploring urban spaces and experiencing new cultures whilst travelling. In terms of style, I definitely find myself feeling comfortable in both day or night scenarios, whereas Elly is more of a daytime photographer. In terms of gear, I’m always keen to test out different lenses and explore new options, but Elly prefers to stick to the one focal length and has done for years now!
What was your first experience in Japan like?
My first trip to Japan was a rapid 7 days in November, 2014. Elly had been on holiday in Hong Kong with friends and extended her trip to visit her family in Tokyo. I decided to join for the week and it literally changed my life. The rapid schedule meant there was no time to truly process all the curiosity and interest I developed. I honestly came away with more questions than I had answers, making me desperate to return. Fortunately, I was armed with multiple cameras for the trip, so I documented it heavily and gave myself the opportunity to reflect for weeks afterwards as I edited everything.
Visiting Japan was also incredibly satisfying as someone who pays incredible attention to detail. All the little nuances to product design and direction made so much sense to me. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I’d found a culture that universally respected all the values I personally hold.
You were commissioned by Ishikawa and Gifu Tourism to make the documentary-style film, ‘Made in Japan’, about traditional Japanese handicrafts from the region - if you had to choose, which of the experiences from that had the biggest impact on you and why?
Of the 12+ trips I’ve made to Japan in the last few years, this one is easily up there as one of the most memorable. I was fascinated by every craft that we experienced, but the process of Aizome (indigo blue dyeing) stood out the most to me. For the years previous, I’d taken note of the consistent dark blue fashion I was seeing everywhere. It felt sophisticated, yet relaxed, and very premium, yet accessible. I hadn’t realised the historical connection until discovering Aizome. Seeing the dedication to the craft, the amount of time involved and the natural processing of dyeing this rich blue colour, just made me fall in love with the style even more.
As a filmmaker, it was also one of the most satisfying to film, with beautiful hazy light filling the studio and a very (blue) hands-on process.
You also did a ‘Japan Rail’ series. From filming that, what piece of advice would you give to visitors who are planning on travelling the country predominantly by rail?
I think part of the magic for the Japan Rail Series was that it wasn’t overly planned in the first place. I had the idea to make a train-based series that explored Japan in the Winter, but I honestly wasn’t sure how far it would take us over 21-days. One of the best features of the JR Pass is how much flexibility it affords you. You can practically get around the whole country at a moment's notice.
If you can, and your travel style suits this, I’d recommend giving yourself flexibility on your itinerary. Along the journey, you may find local spots you’d like to explore further or destinations that would benefit from certain weather conditions. With a fixed schedule you lose one of the major benefits to an “all-you-can-eat” travel pass. I totally understand that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of booking accommodation only a few days beforehand. But if you’re able to do it, the experience is so liberating!
What is the one thing you would import into the UK from Japan, if you could? (It can be an item, a custom, a tradition etc.)
Oh man, there are so many things! I think the innate attention to detail and craft is so noticeable at every aspect of life in Japan, that I’d love for it to be more widespread in the UK. As a bonus, I’d love for the train network in the UK to be as fluid, rapid and reliable as in Japan. I can see firsthand the compound effect it has on the whole country and know we have the potential and network back home to benefit from this as well. It just needs to be a collective priority with substantial investment!
We hear that you and Elly are both in Japan now for a couple of months! - How would you say Japan has changed in the time you’ve been away?
In many ways, things are still very much the same, but the 3 years without visiting has amplified all the Japanisms I first noticed all those years ago. It’s as if I can experience the excitement I had when I first visited, without all the confusion and chaos of not understanding a wildly different culture. The last time I was here in 2019 during the Rugby World Cup, it was the easiest I’ve ever experienced Japan from a language perspective. At the height of tourism, I felt a great confidence when seeing people communicating with tourists. With the borders being closed for so long, I think there may have been a knock to the confidence of communicating through a language barrier, but I can tell the excitement is still there and the confidence will naturally return!
Thank you for talking with us!
You can follow Joe along on his travels and projects through his YouTube channel, Instagram or Twitter.
Likewise, stay up to date with all the latest happenings in Japan by following us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
