I Just Saw KEIZO KITAJIMA’s Photos and...

Photo exhibitions are packed with inspiration

Author

Yusuke Nagata
October 21, 2025

Every once in a while, I get a DM on Instagram saying something like,

“I’m visiting Tokyo next month—any gallery recommendations?”

It’s always nice to get these messages, but answering them each time can be tough.
So earlier this year, I shared a list of 15 photo galleries and bookstores in Tokyo in my newsletter (it’s now available to read on the FED site).

But honestly, there are way more great galleries out there than I could ever fit into one list. And to be real, what really matters isn’t the gallery itself—it’s what’s showing right now.

Last weekend, I went to see KEIZO KITAJIMA’s photo exhibition in Shinjuku. The moment I found out about it, I thought, “If I can see Keizo Kitajima’s photos in person, I have to go!”—and I literally ran out the door.

The funny thing is, I didn’t even know he had an exhibition going on.

That day, I happened to have some free time and was wandering around Shinjuku taking photos. Then I suddenly thought, “I wonder if there’s any exhibition happening nearby?”
So I opened an app called Community.

Community is a mobile app run by my friend Dmitry Rambovskiy (@re_sakusei), and it curates photo exhibition info all around Tokyo.

You can browse shows in a list view or even check what’s happening near you on a map. It’s incredibly useful for anyone who loves gallery-hopping.

If it weren’t for this app, I would’ve totally missed Kitajima’s exhibition.
So Dmitry—seriously, thank you for creating this app. You saved my weekend.

If you’re into photography and want to explore Tokyo’s photo scene—or you’re planning a trip here and want to know what exhibitions are happening while you’re in town— I highly recommend downloading this app.

*Android version is in development now, check Dmitry’s instagram for updates

As someone who’s held exhibitions myself, one of the biggest challenges is always getting people to come.

I usually promote my exhibitions on Instagram, but because of the algorithm, not all my followers actually see the posts. I’ve even had friends tell me later, “Wait, you had an exhibition? I didn’t know!”

When you’re promoting your own exhibition, it usually only reaches people who already know you.
Getting strangers to come—that’s the hard part.

But imagine if more people started using apps like Community.

People could just open it, see what’s nearby, and think,
“Oh, there’s a photo exhibition happening around here—let’s check it out.”

That kind of spontaneous discovery could connect photographers and visitors in new ways. And honestly, that would be amazing.

Seeing exhibitions like Kitajima’s always gives me so much inspiration. For example, at this exhibition, there was a slideshow projection of his work. Watching not only the photos but also the structure of how they were presented made me think,
“Next time, I want to try a setup like that.”

Also the prints were fairly small—maybe around 8x10”—but the impact was huge. It reminded me that even small prints can feel powerful when displayed well.
I’m so glad I didn’t miss this exhibition.

From KEIZO KITAJIMA’s photo exhibition

If you’re in Tokyo—or planning to visit—and want to make the most of your time exploring the photo scene, definitely download the Community app.
It’ll make gallery-hopping way more meaningful and fun.

And hey—if you ever see my exhibition pop up on the app, please come by and say hi! haha

You can find the app by searching “Community Japan” in the App Store, or by following the link below.

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