Yusei Kanda
Director / Videographer / Photographer / Producer
Los Angeles, CA
www.ykk.mypixieset.com
instagram @ykcry
Q What do you do?
“I’m a director specializing in both video and photography, but I’m also very hands-on—I operate the camera myself. My work often blends creative direction with production, which means I also take on responsibilities like casting, scheduling, and location scouting.”
Whether it’s a commercial shoot for a fashion brand or content for a Japanese restaurant, I’m involved in every step from concept to final execution.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
After graduating from university in Los Angeles, I began my career as an intern at a production company, where I learned the ins and outs of film production. While gaining experience on the production side, I started creating my own work—shooting videos and photos for myself and for friends who were artists. Later, I began another internship at the Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Stampd, where I had the opportunity to learn how to create visual content—both video and photography—for a fashion-driven audience. It was a pivotal moment that helped shape my approach to creative direction.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
What really sets me apart is my ability to handle both video and photography from start to finish. I direct, shoot, and edit everything myself. These days, there's a growing demand for creators who can deliver both still and motion content within a single production, and being able to do both seamlessly has opened up a lot of opportunities for me.
Also, since I was born and raised in Japan, I have a strong cultural understanding that I bring into my work—especially when collaborating with Japanese restaurants. I’ve been fortunate to receive a lot of offers from them, and I take pride in being able to authentically represent Japanese food culture through visual storytelling. Whether it’s capturing the craftsmanship behind sushi or the atmosphere of a traditional space, I aim to communicate more than just the visuals—I want to share the feeling and story behind it.
Q What are you working on right now?
One of my goals is to hold a solo exhibition that combines both video and photography, showcasing only the cultures I personally love and connect with. That vision keeps me motivated to keep creating—I'm constantly shooting new work that reflects my personal taste and perspective.
Q What’s your style?
I'm currently working as the content director for SUSHICLUB, a collaborative project between Chris Stamp—the founder of the fashion brand Stampd where I previously interned—and world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, known for his global NOBU restaurants.
It feels like the perfect intersection of my background: having experience in the fashion world through my time at Stampd, and being Japanese, with a deep understanding of Japanese food culture and visual storytelling. This project brings together both worlds—style and tradition—and allows me to express them through photo and video in a way that feels very authentic to who I am.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Moving forward, I plan to continue directing and shooting while also expanding into art direction and rebranding for existing businesses and brands. Although I’ll remain rooted in the arts and creative fields, I want to further leverage my strengths as a Japanese professional and bring that unique perspective to my work.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Right now, one of the things that frustrates me the most is doing pretty much everything by myself — from directing and shooting to editing. It can get pretty overwhelming, especially when I have a bunch of projects going on at once. I’m thinking about building a team soon so I can focus more on the creative side and not get bogged down by all the logistics.
Learning new technologies and editing software often ends up on the back burner because of my busy schedule, but I’m always aiming to keep myself updated and improve my skills.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Someone who can help with my schedule management as well as assist with simple tasks on set during shoots.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my high school self to study graphic design. Back then, I really enjoyed calligraphy and creating logos, so if I had been able to do those things digitally at the time, I think my creativity would have grown even more.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Color grading, AI
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
As mentioned earlier, I am interested in working on rebranding and art direction projects for both new and existing businesses.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I’ve loved basketball since I was a kid, so I’d really like to work more with basketball-related projects—whether that’s with brands, athletes, or anything connected to the sport.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Please feel free to contact me via email from my website www.ykk.mypixieset.com, or send me a direct message on Instagram @ykcry.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
@sushichef715, @Zacevan, and @Asatoiida
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Stay true to what you love.
This member profile was originally published in July 2025.