In a life that feels like a journey with many transfers, what are you thinking about now?
On a rainy morning, soft light with a rich texture filtered through the old windows of a gallery space. We were in Okayama — there to meet the photographer, Masako Nakagawa.
Our connection with Masako Nakagawa began about six months ago. During a photo shoot, she noticed a Square Shoulder Bag that one of our staff members was carrying and said, “That’s beautiful.” That simple moment led us to say, “Then please, we’d love for you to use it.”
Some time later, when we asked her how she was finding the bag, she told us that it had come into her life at a turning point — as if its presence had somehow become intertwined with that moment of change.
Now, after closing the chapter of running her gallery.
Ever since she fell in love with photography while studying abroad in the United States during her university years, Masako Nakagawa has been shining like a bright star — traveling across Japan and around the world as a freelance photographer.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Masako Nakagawa was guided by an unexpected turn of fate to relocate to Okayama. While raising her children, she began living between Tokyo and Okayama. Then, in 2020 — the year the pandemic began — she purchased a home in Okayama and started running GATHER, an atelier and gallery space. Through her photography, writing, and other creative work, she has also played a role in connecting makers and the people who live with their creations.
“But actually, this place too will come to an end at the end of this month.”
As she murmured those words, there was a calm clarity in Nakagawa’s expression — as if her heart had already begun preparing for the next journey.
“Right now, there are just so many things I want to do — it’s overflowing,” she said with a smile. “I was actually thinking I should start by making a list of what I want to do next. Everything is still changing, so if we talk again next week, I might already be saying something different.”
I guess I’m just better suited to expressing myself.
“I’ve always had this attitude of ‘I can go anywhere, anytime,’” she said. “So by buying a house, I felt like I was finally saying to myself, ‘For now, this is where I belong.’”
She started the gallery from a simple, genuine inspiration — the desire to have a place of her own.
“But I thought, maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all. For a long time, I felt like a guest — like a foreigner temporarily staying in a land loved by those who truly belong here. It took me eleven years after moving to Okayama to finally feel that this was my place. Running the gallery for three years made my strengths and weaknesses much clearer to me. I realized that I’m better suited to expressing myself than playing a supporting role — that I’m more in my element when I’m taking photos, writing, and putting my own work out into the world.”
Over the years, Nakagawa has published many works. In the spring of 2024, she released her first text-centered essay book, Mizu no Shita (published by Kumo 3).
“Whenever I held a photo exhibition, many visitors would tell me, ‘I love your writing as much as your photos.’ But at first, I took it as a kind of defeat — as if it meant that my photographs alone weren’t enough as a photographer. So I tried to brush it off and not think too much about it.
But times have changed. Especially among the younger generation, many people no longer feel the need to stick to just one thing. So by publishing this book, I felt like I could finally give myself permission to say, ‘It’s okay now.’ The image of the photographer I once aspired to be might be different from who I am today — but I’ve come to realize that that’s perfectly fine.”
At the same time, it seems that the way she travels has also become more relaxed, more effortless over time.
“In the past, most of my trips were for work, so traveling with a lot of equipment was just part of my routine. But lately, I’ve been intentionally taking more personal trips — like staying somewhere for two nights just to see a friend. I’ve started to feel more open to that kind of travel.”
What she came to realize was that when you visit someone casually, they welcome you just as casually in return.
“When I only had time to see people between work, everyone was being considerate — so instead of having long conversations, we’d just talk about the most current things. But when I started setting aside more time to meet, deeper stories began to surface — the kind that start with, ‘You know, actually…’ It made me realize how many of those moments I’ve missed because I was too busy. That thought still sends a chill through me. There are regrets, of course, about how I’ve lived so far, but now that I’ve noticed it, I think it’s enough to start living differently from here.”
The everyday essentials in her bag include two tenugui towels she uses instead of handkerchiefs, her keys, wallet, glasses, lip balm, a pouch filled with stationery and a book, and a pair of wired earphones. Since she often rides her bicycle, Nakagawa attaches an ankle band to the bag’s strap.
As the purpose of her travels has changed, so too have the things she carries. Now, she simply slings a bag like the Square Shoulder across her body, takes just one camera, and leaves the tripod behind. She’s learned to enjoy what she calls a “light-travel style” — a journey with only the essentials.
“What I love about this bag is its slightly masculine, sharp look — and how I can just toss things in without worrying about it. The design fits closely to the body, and it feels really comfortable when worn crossbody. The pockets are easy to use, and I love how the material is softer than I imagined.”
She also told us that she appreciates how easily the bag pairs with her everyday wardrobe — not just for travel, but for daily life as well.
“When I’m in Okayama raising my kids, it’s really about daily life — so I usually wear something easy to move in, active clothes. Sometimes I even speed around on my bicycle,” she laughed. “But when I go to Tokyo or attend a reception, I like to dress up a little. What I love is that this bag works perfectly for both situations.”
“And you know,” Nakagawa added.
“I’ve always liked pairing dressy outfits with relaxed, soft bags. I admire that ’90s Julia Roberts style — a tailored suit matched with a casual bag. I love the idea of adding this bag to a polished look, just to make it feel a little more effortless.”
“To live sincerely.”
I began to wonder — what is it that I want to do from here on? What kind of photographs do I want to take? As I turned those questions over in my mind, something became clear to me.
“Right now, I just want to strengthen my personal point of view. For example, rather than traveling for photography, I want to enjoy the journey first — and let the photos and words naturally emerge from that experience. I want things to happen in the right, honest order.”
The photo book project for a shop in Kyoto was a client commission, yet it carried a deeply personal touch — a work created with a genuine desire to support and celebrate the people involved.
At the center of it all is the simple intention — to live sincerely.
“It’s not about doing something grand — it’s about living in a way that fits my own size. Not doing things half-heartedly, but cherishing the simple, ordinary things. More than anything, I want to value what it means to live as a human being.”
ーPROFILEー
She is known for capturing the natural expressions of human life, everyday light, and serene landscapes.
Her work has appeared across a wide range of media — including magazines, advertising, and books.
In March 2011, she relocated her base from Tokyo to Okayama.
Her major works include the photo books Shinsekai, IMMIGRANTS, Dareodo, Rippling, and AN ORDINARY DAY;
the picture book Kanojo-tachi created in collaboration with novelist Shino Sakuragi;
and the visual work for TOKINOHA, a Kyoto-based Kiyomizu pottery brand.
She is also an active writer, having published her first essay collection Mizunoshita in April 2024.
She is currently working on her second book.
instagram : @masakonakagawa
Related Columns
The Story Behind REN Making BARE in Bali.