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Yasuyuki Kanazawa of “Oni” Corporation, a company name given in a flippant manner and a job that does not allow for flippancy.

2023.10.20

#ART

A circle of friends connected by gut touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.

On August 29, designer ARUMANA introduced Yasuyuki Kanazawa, photographer and representative director of “Oni” Inc. We asked him not only about the origin of the company’s impactful name, but also about his wide range of activities, from music videos for PC Music Club and Yabai T-shirt Shop to apparel collaborations with manga and video games, as well as the anime that continues to influence him.

A company created in a groove and a company name decided in a groove

Takano (MC): ARUMANA-san called Mr. Kanazawa “Big Daddy.

Kanazawa: “Which part?” I was like, “What’s that? I don’t know what he was talking about (laughs).

Takano: It seems that ARUMANA is a dependable person.

Kanazawa: No, I just don’t have anyone to rely on her (laughs).

Takano: How long have you known Mr. ARUMANA?

Kanazawa: About 5 to 6 years, I think. If I dig too deep, I would get too close to his true identity.

Takano: Keep it mysterious there.

Celeina (MC): Let me start with a profile. Mr. Yasuyuki Kanazawa was born in Nara Prefecture in 1986. After graduating from Osaka University of Arts, he became a freelancer in Kansai. Then in 2014, he moved to Tokyo and established “Oni” Inc. This is the name of the company (laughs).

Takano: I’ve been wondering since yesterday, what kind of company is Oni?

Kanazawa: It’s a company that takes advertising photos and stuff.

Celeina: Why is the company name “Oni”?

Kanazawa: We’re in such a groove that even if you dig, you won’t find anything. I don’t think about anything. I was told that a friend’s company had an extra domain that they were saving for an April Fool’s Day story, so I would give it to them.

Celeina:No way! Do you mean “oni.com”?

Kanazawa: The name is “Demon Pictures” in the English table, but I have another domain called “oni-inc.

Takano: There were demons for leftovers.

Kanazawa: That’s right (laughs).

Takano: But it is nice to have an impact when you greet people. When you greet people, do you say, “I am Kanazawa, the demon”?

Kanazawa: Yes, I do. It’s the same when other people introduce me.

Takano: Isn’t that really nice?

Kanazawa: It’s a tough story (laughs).

Celeina: I envy you.

Takano: I don’t forget.

Kanazawa: It’s tough because I forget more often than not (laughs).

Takano: I heard that the name of the company was “Oni” (laughs).

Celeina: I heard that “Oni” Inc. was started by a couple of college friends.

Kanazawa: It was just a bunch of guys who wanted to quit their jobs, and we got together and decided to make a go of it. That’s why there is no story here either. Everyone quit their jobs at the same time.

Takano: That is fateful timing, though.

Kanazawa: That’s a cool thing to say, but since we are all mahjong buddies, we really feel like a bunch of bad guys.

Celeina: No, no. Mahjong is a pretty smart game, isn’t it?

Takano: Yes, it is. There are a lot of smart people.

Kanazawa: No, they are not that smart either (laughs).

Celeina: He’s the devil himself (laughs).

Takano: You are the representative director, so what exactly do you do?

Kanazawa: I create the company name and do some accounting work, so I’m called the representative director, but actually I’m a photographer.

Takano: Is that all four of you who started the business together?

Kanazawa: Two quit.

Celeina: So they went their own ways.

Kanazawa: They went their separate ways, so we are fine. We are keeping in touch, and I called them yesterday.

Celeina:Maybe they are still listening to you?

Kanazawa: I don’t know about that. I haven’t said anything (laughs).

I don’t believe in myself and throw away my groove.

Celeina : I heard that you try not to trust your own senses when you are working.

Kanazawa: As you can see from what I just said, I have a pretty negative mindset. Photography is an accumulation of theories, so I take the stance that I only use my senses for the last swing, and the rest of the time I accumulate theories.

Takano: You just go with the flow when deciding on a company name.

Kanazawa: Since we took that part lightly, we decided to get the part right. The only part that was done in a casual manner was the name.

Takano: That gap is cool. But it is interesting that the part we cut corners on is the name of the company (laughs).

Kanazawa: I really could have chosen anything (laughs).

Takano: It is important for creators and artists not to trust their own senses.

Celeina: It may be necessary to be objective.

Kanazawa: That is one of the reasons why I always want to base my thinking on theory and structure rather than on feeling.

Celeina:This is the representative director. I feel like an entrepreneur and manager.

Takano: Indeed.

Animation continues to influence our work.

Celeina : This program is ACG Tuesday every Tuesday, where we talk about anime, comics, and games, and it seems that you are also an anime lover, Kanazawa-san.

Kanazawa: Yes, I do. I would like to do just this.

Celeina: Have you been a fan since you were a child?

Kanazawa: I am the type of person who has been watching special effects since childhood and grew up not knowing when to stop.

Celeina:What was the first work that got you hooked?

Kanazawa: At first, I really liked anime with combined robots and that kind of thing. From there, I started to derive more and more.

Takano: Like shounen mono?

Kanazawa: Yes, that’s right. I started out in the royal road type, where the main character deepens communication, and then I went into clay animation, but after I came back, I started to watch only moe anime.

Celeina: So you have seen a variety of works.

Kanazawa: I think I have seen quite a few works.

Takano: What is your current top pick?

Kanazawa: I’m sorry. That question is really tough. If you say “right now,” then we’re talking about this season.

Takano: How would you say this term?

Kanazawa: This season is “Unemployed Tensei” and “Jujutsu Kaisen”. I’ve watched more than a dozen films in a single season.

Celeina: That’s amazing. Do you spend almost all of your private time on anime?

Kanazawa: My routine is to wake up in the morning and watch three or four anime before going to work.

Takano: In the morning!

Kanazawa: Since I have always been a freelancer, my routine is to watch anime in the morning instead of putting on a suit and tie and turning it on. On days when there is no anime, I have to watch one old anime before I can concentrate on my work.

Takano: Wow. Does anime have an impact on your work as an input?

Kanazawa: It has influenced me a lot. The opening of the anime and the cuts of scenes in the play have a tremendous influence on the composition of my photographs.

Takano: It is interesting that you get hints for composition from anime. It is something unique to you, isn’t it?

Kanazawa: I am glad I am an otaku.

Takano: I would love to hear more, but let’s interrupt for a song here. I asked Mr. Kanazawa to choose a song he would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time. What song would it be?

Kanazawa: I was in charge of shooting the music video, “river relief feat. Sakiyama Aoshi” by PAS TASTA.

https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/track/0PaMGCGfmGZvtGIFrpNIQ8?si=194302debde04988

Takano: You mean shooting music videos. What other artists have you worked on music videos for?

Kanazawa: PC Music Club, Yabai T-shirt shop, and Tetsu Okazaki. I have been involved in a variety of ways, some as a shooter and some as a producer.

Working with friends to turn culture into apparel

Takano: You often work on music projects, but I heard that you are working on a project with fellow anime lovers.

Kanazawa: That’s right. We are making clothes. Like the “Baki” T-shirt I am wearing right now.

Takano: If you look closely, you can see that it says “BAKI” on it.

Kanazawa: It’s a brand called MEQRI, which makes apparel in collaboration with manga, anime, and video games. Instead of using illustrations as they are, they create graphic logos from scratch. They are quite cute.

Celeina:Wonderful.

Kanazawa: Just yesterday, a collaboration with “Tamagotchi” was released. It’s really cute. The pop-up is also amazing, isn’t it?

Celeina:Where will it be held?

Kanazawa: It will be at MIYASHITA PARK. And for two weeks.

Takano: When does it start?

Kanazawa: From September 2 to 14.

Celeina: This weekend (at the time of broadcast).

Takano: Very timely!

Kanazawa: That’s right. I was invited to the program at this time, so it’s very hot.

Takano: It’s like, “Thank you, ARUMANA.

Kanazawa: It’s true.

Celeina: I understand that the collaboration pop-up between MEQRI and “Tamagotchi” will be held at THE [ ] STORE in MIYASHITA PARK from this weekend until the 14th. I hope listeners will check it out.

Kanazawa: By all means.

Celeina:For “FIST BUMP,” or Circle of Friends Connected by Gutai, we are asking you to introduce us to your friends.

Kanazawa: I am Ryo Fukuchi, an ordinary office worker, but I am also a media artist.

Takano: What is a media artist?

Kanazawa: I do all sorts of experimental things, and I do things with video. I am really an artist.

Celeina: How did you become friends?

Kanazawa: We have known each other for more than 10 years, and I really don’t know. I don’t know how we became friends with this guy. I think we are probably fellow geeks.

Celeina:Do you usually work together? Or as playmates?

Kanazawa: We are playmates. We go camping and mountain climbing together.

Celeina : You are very active.

Kanazawa: Even though I’m a nerd.

Celeina : That’s great.

Takano: If you had to describe Mr. Fukuchi in one word, how would it be?

Kanazawa: A fellow geek.

Takano: Thank you very much. Tomorrow, I will connect you to Ryo Fukuchi, who is also a media artist while working as an office worker.

Celeina: “FIST BUMP”, today we welcome Mr. Yasuyuki Kanazawa, photographer and president of “Oni” Inc. Thank you very much.

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