Now reading: intimate photos of a tokyo couple on their first visit to a love hotel. Lianne Kersten. This article was originally published by i-D Netherlands. Hence why she prefers to shoot in anonymous, discreet places β worlds that normally exist behind closed doors and which often lead to surprising new friendships.
This is what happened with the Japanese couple, when she decided to rent a room and have a photoshoot with them after a night out. The result is a beautiful, unpolished, and intimate series in a city that, according to her, is full of tangible sexual contradictions.
We called her to talk about this new work, which she created with her friend Morrison Schiffmacher. What do you find so fascinating about Japan? As we walked through Tokyo, we immediately noticed the enormous contradictions when it comes to sex.
There are loads of love hotels and maid cafes in Tokyo. For example, Hiroyuki and Maina, the boy and the girl from the shoot, had never been in a love hotel. The first thing Morrison and I thought was that such a room would be the perfect place for an afterparty with friends, but I think Japanese people feel differently about that.
How did you meet Hiroyuki and Maina? I encountered them in a shop in the Shibuya district and felt that they looked very interesting. I just started talking to them and there was an immediate click, despite the language barrier. After that, we went out for dinner and got very drunk together. Do you often encounter people you want to photograph on the street? You can see the relationship I have with the person I photographed back in the photo, so I think the personal connection in advance of the shoot is important.
