It's no exaggeration to say that Patagonia is the reason AKARI exists.
Marco and Shimpei first met in 2014 at a trail running race in Izu. Shimpei was there as the photographer; Marco was there as the model. They exchanged a few words, agreed it had been a good encounter, and lost touch.
In early 2024, Shimpei was hired to shoot a short tutorial video on caring for Patagonia rainwear, and asked Marco for help. On set, we realized something we hadn't noticed the first time: we genuinely loved making things together. We decided to start a company.
That same year, Patagonia Japan commissioned us to make a feature documentary about trail runner Keisuke Minami's attempt to set the Fastest Known Time on the GR10 trail across the French Pyrenees. We spent three weeks in the field and several more months in post — most of it sleep-deprived. With help from friends and collaborators, AKARI released its first feature film, Chasing South.
Then, in January 2026, Patagonia's founder Yvon Chouinard came to Japan. They chose us as the filming partner for his visit.
For three days in Tokyo, we followed Yvon as he met with the Patagonia Japan team. He was exactly the person his books had described: a deep love for the natural world, no inconsistency between the message and the man. At the very end of the assignment, we set our cameras down, returned to being fans for a moment, and asked for a photo.
His visit sent us back to his philosophy. The passage that stayed with us was his reason for co-founding 1% for the Planet:
"This is not philanthropy. This is an Earth tax. We are paying the planet rent for the resources we use." — Yvon Chouinard
AKARI's worksite is mostly the mountains. Summer or winter, our days are spent on trails. Nature isn't a metaphor for our office — it is our office. So the commitment Yvon described felt obvious for us, too.
Starting with our fiscal year in March 2026, AKARI officially joined 1% for the Planet. We're a small studio, and our contribution is modest. But for the places where we play, work, and sometimes sleep, paying rent is the least we can do.
We're always looking forward to getting back to the office.
Met in the field. Still working there.
Born in Hong Kong. Started his career as a journalist and now works across design research, filmmaking, and photography. At AKARI, he leads the design consulting practice and directs the studio's film and brand work — from interview moderation to brand strategy to documentary.
Born in Chiba. A photographer and cinematographer working with running, outdoor, and adventure brands across Japan. Brought a decade of client relationships — Patagonia, Vivo Barefoot, Altra — to AKARI. His eye for movement and light shapes the studio's visual identity.
Born in Kumamoto. Played soccer from the age of three, and the way sport brings people together eventually drew him into sports photography. His first real assignment was a trail running event at the foot of Mt. Fuji, where he met Marco and Shimpei. After an internship, he joined AKARI as its first full-time hire in May 2026. He moves between roles — photographer on shoots, cinematographer on film projects, and the face of the community at AKARI's Kamiyama headquarters, which doubles as a bouldering and fitness studio.
Born in Fukuoka. As AKARI's project manager, she stands between the production team and clients, keeping every shoot, edit, and delivery on track. Her attention to detail and ability to move things forward are what make the studio's work possible.
Weekdays she works as an engineer at an international IT firm; weekends, she hunts in the mountains. Sansai in spring, hiking in summer, matsutake in autumn, hunting in winter. The same long-form focus she brings to demanding terrain is what she brings to the work.
