Mei @mei_ichinose wearing some of her training prosthetics.
Ghost in the Shell is one of my favorite animated films of all times. And when I clicked the shutter and took these pictures, Mei really reminded me of the main character Major Motoko. But very, very human, and this is not a fiction, simply her life.
Photo: Xi Chen
Model, hair, make up: Mei Ichinose
Prosthetics: @nakamurabrace
Been so many years since I’ve been behind the lens.
Did a quick lil portrait session with @5amxu with @chungybby helping with lights in my living room. So much fun and laughs. Creating with friends are the best ✨
Portraits of @mei_ichinose 🌖
An exploration of her inner landscape — quiet complexity and the dance between strength and malleability.
Photo: Xi Chen
Hair & Make Up: Mei Ichinose
Assist / Support: Tai @dmyouni
EP cover art I created for Tsuchiyanibond’s new release.
I met Taka-san in Kōyasan last November. He is a master massage therapist, and I was fortunate to experience his work during my stay there.
A week later, we met again in Tokyo. He shared a song he was working on — a quiet dialogue with his younger self. I made some sketches.
A month passed.
The song is finished.
So is the cover. ✨
Grateful to see this piece now live! Check it out in Spotify and Apple Music
Last June I met @mei_ichinose through a good friend in Kyoto, in August we had coffee in New York and chatted about some image making ideas. In November I was in Kyoto again and we took some photos together . Very organically a collaboration happened, thank you @mei_ichinose for the good times and creative sparkles and trust. Feels so rewarding to be behind the camera again.
First of many more to come ✨
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Landscape studies.
All the traveling the past month got me feeling and tuning into the vibes / frequencies of each places I’m in, while anticipating cozy colder days back in New York.
Here’s a couple landscapes that I had been playing on and looping with in the clouds.
In the past five days, I took sanctuary at @koyasan_ekoin_temple in Koyasan.
I didn’t know the kind of holding I’ve been longing for
could come from a place—
from a mountain.
As a third-culture kid
(still a kid even in my 30s 👧🏻✨),
Living alone (though with plenty of friends!! and a cute kitty baby) in New York City,
here I finally allowed myself
to be my soft-girl Xi.
To smile at everyone,
to pet the moss,
to just be
In this stillness,
I see everything I have.
My friends, my work, my family, myself,
this strange lucky life
that lets me travel alone
to a mountain like this—
a place ancient and magical,
yet still open to wanderers like me.
I thank the mountain
for existing.
The temples,
for standing through centuries.
The magic,
for surviving the modern world
and still choosing to reveal itself
to anyone willing to slow down enough to notice.
Thanks @namimiyashita@common_kame@taka.koyasan for moments of friendship and connection. And @koyasan_ekoin_temple for taking such good care of me ✨💕✨
In gratitude,
until next time.
またね！👋🏼
