Yuji Watanabe’s photographs often feel as though they belong somewhere between reality and a dream. Human figures remain recognizable, yet costumes, strange transformations, unusual compositions, and the soft imperfections of analog photography push them into worlds that feel theatrical, mysterious, and sometimes slightly unsettling. Born in Japan in 1987, Watanabe studied photography in New York before returning to Tokyo to complete his education and begin his professional career. He moved to Paris in 2012 and now works between Paris and Tokyo, producing fashion and portrait photography alongside more personal projects. Across both sides of his work, fantasy, darkness, and romance frequently overlap, with carefully staged scenes blurring the boundary between the real and unreal.
That approach is especially visible in his “Yōkai” (妖怪) series, which became the subject of a solo exhibition at Tokyo’s 229GALLERY in 2024. Drawing on supernatural beings and figures from Japanese folklore, Watanabe reimagines them through staged portraits and composite photography rather than simply recreating traditional illustrations. Traditional Japanese theater, particularly Noh and Kabuki, also shows up in the elaborate costumes, controlled poses, and emphasis on transformation throughout the series. The selection below places those haunting images alongside some of Watanabe’s other personal, editorial, and commercial photographs. While their subjects can differ considerably, from elaborate fashion portraits to figures floating in water or standing alone in natural landscapes—the same visual language keeps resurfacing. Something is often slightly unusual about the scene, whether it comes from styling, texture, light, movement, or the way Watanabe alters the human form. Together, the photographs offer a broader look at an artist whose polished fashion sensibility regularly meets something much stranger.
Scroll down to explore Yuji Watanabe’s work, and let us know in the comments which of his images you felt the most uneasy about.
