SHO KAWAI STUDIO — KOBE, JAPAN
Building distinctive brands through creative direction, photography, film and design.
I help hotels, restaurants, regional brands and companies turn their ideas into a clear, consistent visual identity—from strategy and concept development to final production. Based in Kobe, I work across Japan and internationally.
SERVICES
One vision, across every touchpoint.
Creative Direction
Brand concept, visual strategy and production planning that give every creative decision a clear purpose.
Photography
Hospitality, food, architecture, products and people—photographed to express the atmosphere and value of your brand.
Film
Brand films, interviews and social content, from planning and direction to shooting and final delivery.
Design
Graphic and digital design that carries the same visual language across print, web and communication tools.
APPROACH
From the core idea to the final image.
First, we clarify what makes your business meaningful and distinctive. Then we build a creative direction that connects photography, film and design into one coherent world.
You can commission a single service or work with me as a creative partner across the entire project.
FEATURED HOSPITALITY WORK
Recent hotel photography projects.
Two recent large-scale assignments created as website visuals for hospitality brands in Japan.
Unzen Kyushu Hotel
Surrounded by the natural landscape of Unzen at an elevation of approximately 700 metres, Unzen Kyushu Hotel offers a deeply atmospheric stay. I photographed its interiors, dining, hot springs and surrounding scenery for the hotel’s website—focusing not only on the facilities, but also on the changing light, material textures and quiet sense of time experienced there.
View full project (Japanese) →Oarai Park Hotel
I photographed the lobby, restaurant and relaxation lounge of Oarai Park Hotel for its website. Through soft light, material textures, furniture and carefully considered details, the images express both the character of each space and the calm experience of spending time there.
View full project (Japanese) →SELECTED WORK
Work for hospitality, food, regional and corporate brands.
Explore selected projects created for hotels, restaurants, healthcare, manufacturers and community-led brands throughout Japan.
Explore the portfolio →ABOUT
Sho Kawai
Sho Kawai is a Kobe-based creative director working across photography, film and design. By moving fluidly between strategy and production, he helps each project retain one strong point of view from beginning to end.
More about the studio →CONTACT
Tell me about your project.
Early-stage ideas are welcome. Please write in English or Japanese and include your goals, location, schedule and approximate budget if available.
Send an Inquiry