Kenji was born in Japan and grew up there until he moved to the United States in 2005 to attend college. Many Japanese kids were taught that getting a high-paying, well-regarded job is the only way to succeed. He has always liked taking photos and looking at photographs; he did not, however, consider that a viable career option. After trying various kinds of work, from a preschool educator to a trainer at Apple, he learned that, unlike in Japan, he does not need to limit his career options in this country as long as he is willing to work hard.

Kenji’s passion for creating artistic portraits that resemble paintings from the Renaissance period started when he visited the Otsuka International Museum. There, famous paintings and works of art from all over the world are recreated brush stroke to brush stroke on ceramic in their original sizes. He saw how the painters made light fall on the subjects and how every piece has stood the test of time and tells the history of the era and the subjects. Kenji’s family experienced many losses in the last two years. In the wake of that loss, he became very grateful for the family portrait photos he walks by daily because they help him remember those he has lost. His daughter is too young to remember them, but she will know them from their images. Kenji is passionate about creating a legacy for each person and helping them tell their stories through photos for decades to come. He makes a safe space for everyone who comes to his studio and captures people as who they are and how they want to be photographed. His goal is for each photo he takes to make his subjects proud, stand the test of time and be enjoyed by their family for generations to come.