Japan on film

Film isn’t just for purists anymore. In a world where instantly editable digital snapshots are everywhere, all the time, photography enthusiasts the world over are developing a newfound appreciation for moments recorded on physical media. Here’s a small sample of what Japan looks like when captured with intent, courtesy of four film-focused photographers.

Our film camera of choice: Pentax 17

This compact marvel launched by Ricoh Imaging in 2024 has caused a bit of a stir among shutterbugs, and no wonder: it’s the first completely new 35mm film camera released by a major manufacturer in the past two decades. Its half-frame format is particularly suited to vertical compositions – Instagram-friendly, in other words – while the strictly manual controls make for a satisfyingly tactile shooting experience.

PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THIS PAGE

Shota Ashino @srg_ashino
Fumihiko Suzuki @fumihiko_suzuki
Sara Masuda @sara_photo_912
Shiori Iwakura @iwakurashiori