First of all, a question for Noam: where are you from and how did you end up working in Japan?

NOAM: I’ve been in Japan for seven years, and in saying that, I realise just how long it’s been. It all started when my partner found work here and said, “I’ve got a job, want to join me?” I was glad to come along. Moving to Tokyo seven years ago was a major life event for me. I’m from Tel Aviv and worked in radio before coming to Japan.

What kind of radio work were you involved in?

NOAM: I was involved in selecting and planning content. Photography was a hobby. I majored in art history at university but here in Japan, all of the radio programs are in Japanese, which would have been difficult, so I took the chance to try something new.

Have you been working as a photographer since arriving in Japan seven years ago?

NOAM: Over time, I gradually established myself as a photographer. Whether it be architecture or people, there are so many beautiful moments here and so it was amazing to capture them. Everything grew at a slow place. I shared my work with magazines, which led me to where I am today.

Have you thought about doing any other work outside of photography?

NOAM: I’m not the kind of person who sets goals for where they want to be. I usually go with the flow and see where life takes me, which is how I ended up working in photography. If you’d had asked me the same question eight years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamt of moving to Tokyo and becoming a photographer.

JEREMY: In radio, there are “shock jocks” who are known for making outrageous comments on the morning shows and so on. Perhaps you could have done something like that! [laughs]

NOAM: Maybe I could have. [laughs]
I spent fifteen years in radio, but mostly hiding backstage. The few times I ventured in front of the mic, it was only my mum who called to compliment me. That's when I realizsed I should probably stick to the behind-the-scenes action. [laughs]

I see. [laughs] When we spoke to Jeremy last time, he said that rather than being focused specifically on Japan, he found it was the best fit for his needs. He also came across his current job through a friend. Do you both feel that a natural course of events led you here?

JEREMY: For sure. I think you make a really good point. Rather than having my heart set on moving to Tokyo no matter what, I just went with the flow. Life has a way of leading you down various paths and sometimes you just have to go with it.

That’s exactly right.

NOAM: We’re involved in the creative scene, so I guess it’s a bit different to the corporate world, where people plan to reach a position in a number of years and work to accomplish that goal.

Even though I work for a company, I feel as though I ended up here naturally. At university I studied law, which is completely different to my current job. After that I went to design school, worked in interior design and moved from Tokyo to Kyoto. And before I knew it, I was here.

JEREMY: That’s amazing. Do you still want to do law? [laughs]

NOAM: The sum of all of the things around you and the experiences you’ve had, law included, seem to have led you to IDÉE.

I think so too. Well, this is Jeremy’s second time overseeing the styling, while Noam is shooting for the first time. Did you know each other before this shoot?

JEREMY: Thanks to IDÉE we’ve become friends. We’d never worked together and actually met for the first time on this project.

What was it like working together to create something? It really looked like you got along well.

JEREMY: It’s interesting to work with someone you’ve never met before, but there’s also some risk involved. You have no idea how it’s going to go. It may turn out amazing, it may turn out terrible. But in conclusion, it came together really nicely. One of the reasons is that Noam does not usually shoot interiors and architecture, so I think it was great that we could work together for the first time and create something new.
The photographer for the previous shoot, Ben Hosking, works in architecture and interiors, so the images were a little more neat, which matched the theme. On this occasion, having a photographer with a different background led to a softer atmosphere that aligned well with the theme.

NOAM: Jeremy mentioned taking risks and in my case, it was a big risk as well. I've previously shot backstage at fashion shows, but that involved an incredibly small team. This shoot was a bit larger in scale and the theme was interiors, so it was really scary. In the end it worked out well and I think it was good to take the risk as doing so can lead to new discoveries.

It was also a challenging shoot for IDÉE. Up until now, we’d only worked with Japanese stylists and photographers, and so were seeking a different perspective from a non-Japanese point of view. I’m glad that the shoot was so successful. When you heard the theme, “Heliotropism ~ Everybody Loves the Sunshine”, what were your impressions?

JEREMY: I thought that seasonality would be a really key point. Our first discussion took place in January, but we were already thinking about the start of summer. For that reason, it felt like a really romantic idea. I had to think about a completely different season, which gave me a sense of longing.

NOAM: When I saw the theme, I imagined the setting of an actual photo. For example, a slightly hazy, golden day in early summer. It actually rained on the shooting day, so Jeremy and I had to create something that wasn't there. As for the rainy conditions, we made the most of it and had some fun, imagining an image of early summer that included those feelings.

In terms of the theme, it's about getting away from the city during the sweaty early summer period to spend some time in the open in a relaxed southern town. How do you usually spend this time of year?

NOAM: In Israel, holidays are a part of a daily life. After work, you can be at the beach in fifteen minutes to meet friends, relax by the water and watch the sun go down. Taking time off is part of each day. You can move around briskly in sandals and shorts, which is a complete contrast to Tokyo where it's like, "Summer is here. Time to put up a parasol and avoid getting burnt."

JEREMY: It's similar in Australia, where people take time to enjoy themselves at the end of the day.

I admire that. Taking time to relax within daily life can no doubt enrich your way of life, and I think it's great to enjoy nature.

JEREMY: I feel that Japanese people are very sensitive to the seasons.

NOAM: It really seems as though there’s a different season every week. In Japan, there is a sense that the seasons are always changing. There's obviously the temperature, but also the way in which people respond to the natural environment. I think this has a strong bearing on their approach and relationship to the seasons.

I understand. I think that the presence of four seasons in Japan shows this sensitivity. In Japan, people often change their interior spaces each season. Is this something you also do?

JEREMY: Rather than making big changes to the rooms, my houseplants tend to evolve with the seasons, or I may swiftswitch the bed sheets from cotton to linen. However, the things in my home seem to change naturally, so there's always a sense of seasonality, even if I don’t do anything. It might be the light, the way the curtains flicker or how the windows are open, but if I take a photo on my iPhone, it reflects the current season.

NOAM: I don't do anything especially, but sometimes I will change the rug or cultural items. Aside from that, I have a collection of special things that remind me of summer and one day I'd like to find a great house and use them as decoration.

Finally, how would you like to spend your early summer and the rest of the summer months this year?

NOAM: I don't have any fixed plans, but would like to see my family. I think it would be great to rent a large house in Greece and get everyone together. One more thing: I'm really looking forward to cooking with summer ingredients. I really can't wait!

In summer, fruits and vegetables taste even more delicious.

JEREMY: I’d love to go to Okinawa, but it’s so busy these days.

Japanese people love Okinawa as well. It feels even more like summer and there’s so much sunshine!
Your plans sound great and thank you both for your time today.