20 years of collaborative work
Lights, camera, culture – bringing Japanese stories to the world

Since 2006, we've been the creative force behind CAMERA JAPAN, the celebrated Japanese film and culture festival lighting up Rotterdam and Amsterdam. From the opening credits to the final frame, we craft all visual communications and tap into our global network of designers, artists, photographers, and creatives to find the perfect creative partner for each edition.

Together, we create work that captures the festival's cinematic spirit and connects with audiences across cultures. It's been an incredible journey of storytelling, cultural exchange, and creative collaboration – and the best scenes are yet to come.

2025 / 60's Japan Revival
Retro vibes meet modern celebration

For the 20th anniversary of the festival, a collaboration with longtime creative partner Eline Van Dam (known by her moniker Zeloot) brought Japanese 60's design to life.
The inspiration draws from that era's playful use of vibrant colors and bold geometric shapes, creating a nostalgic yet fresh visual experience.

2024 / Into the Fantasy
Where folklore meets freedom

This year's graphics showcase a collaboration with Dutch illustrator and graphic designer Maaike Canne. Her wonderfully colorful artwork depicts a monkey and fox crossing a Japanese wooden bridge through a shoji window frame, set against the surreally colored backdrop of Mt. Fuji with vibrant kites dancing in the sky.

The monkey and fox (Kitsune) hold deep significance in Japanese folklore and mythology. The bridge symbolizes the journey from our serious, everyday world into a realm of playful fantasy. Meanwhile, the kites represent pure freedom and childlike wonder.

Japan boasts a rich and fascinating history with kites. During parts of the Edo period, kite-flying was actually banned because too many people chose soaring kites over work. Apparently, the Japanese weren't always as work-obsessed as modern stereotypes might suggest!

2023 / Game Rabbit
When patience meets perfect timing

We had the pleasure of working with talented Polish illustrator and graphic designer Roman Klonek on a poster for 2023. Our journey began in late 2019 when Roman created artwork around the "Game" theme for the planned 2020 edition.

When the pandemic shifted our plans and the festival had to scale back, Roman's vibrant work waited patiently in our files. Fast forward to 2023 – the festival returned in full swing, and Roman's playful rabbit design found its moment to shine, perfectly coinciding with the Year of the Rabbit.

Sometimes the best collaborations are worth the wait.

2022 / Kare Sansui
Where Zen Meets Cinema

This year brought an exciting collaboration with Guangzhou-based designer Tom Kwok. Together, we created something special – a beautiful blend of Kare-Sansui (the meditative patterns of Japanese Zen gardens) with thoughtful nods to classic film reels. The result? A design that feels both timeless and unexpectedly cinematic.

Click here to view the CJ 2022 trailer

2021 / Making a Wish
Ancient Hope Meets Digital Dreams

This year's graphic features a stunning cyber-punk style Daruma doll illustration. In Japanese tradition, writing a Kanji character and filling in one eye symbolizes making a wish. The artwork represents hope for global COVID-19 recovery and a return to normal life. This beautiful Daruma doll design captures the spirit of optimism and the enduring power of perseverance in achieving meaningful goals.

Click here to see the case study for this work. 

2020 / #15
Celebrating a Milestone in Uncertain Times

In light of pandemic restrictions on festivals and gatherings, this year's event took a different approach—
no specific theme, but every design celebrated the number "15" to honor the festival's remarkable 15th anniversary milestone.

2019 / Youth
Where Innocence Meets Inner Complexity

The 2019 "Youth" theme captured the delicate balance between innocence and the darker depths of adolescence. A Japanese high school girl stands suspended before a window—a portal into her intricate mindscape.
The haunting "skull tree" beyond the glass draws inspiration from "Taira-no-Kiyomori," a classic Ukiyo-e masterpiece, adding layers of symbolism that mirror the internal struggles and profound complexity of youth's transformative journey.

Collaboration with Idlebeats 

2018 / Superstitious??
Ancient Ghosts Dance Across the Silver Screen

For CAMERA JAPAN's 13th anniversary, the festival embraced Japan's supernatural side, spotlighting the enigmatic Yokai—mystical spirits that have haunted imaginations for centuries. These captivating creatures from Japanese folklore brought authentic cultural magic to the celebration, taking audiences on a spellbinding journey through Japan's most fascinating myths and legends.

Collaboration with Zeloot

Click here to view the CJ 2018 trailer

2017 / Dutch-Japanese
Where East Meets West: A Cultural Collision

To mark 400 years of Dutch-Japanese cultural exchange in 2017, the festival created striking posters featuring a samurai warrior's head on a Dutch nobleman's body.
This bold fusion captured the awe and tension of two vastly different worlds colliding for the first time. The imagery reflected that pivotal historical moment when Japan and the Netherlands first encountered each other, celebrating the profound impact of their cultural meeting.

Collaboration with Idlebeats 
 

2016 / Konto
Laughter in Every Face

This year's festival celebrates "Konto," a Japanese term borrowed from the French word "conte" meaning comedy. The poster captures this spirit through a brilliant mosaic of countless smiley and laughing faces that unite to form one giant, beaming expression. This playful design perfectly embodies the joy and humor that Konto represents, promising festival-goers an unforgettable experience filled with laughter and comedic delight.

Collaboration with Beijing based illustrator Chong Zeng. 

2015 / #10
A Decade of Cultural Fusion

Where Tradition Meets Celebration In celebration of the festival's 10th anniversary, the number "10" became a prominent graphic motif. The "0" was creatively represented by vibrant, stylized Geisha lips complete with traditional makeup. This design choice honored Japan's rich cultural heritage while symbolizing a decade-long milestone journey.

Collaboration with graphic designer Kekfeng Lee

Click here to view the CJ 2015 trailer

2014 / J-Dream
When Reality Bends: A Surreal Journey Through Japanese Cinema

In this second collaboration with Shanghai artist collective Idlebeats, a mind-bending image captures the essence of "J-Dream" - fantasies and surrealism in Japanese cinema.

At first glance, you'll see a serene Bonsai boat floating on the ocean, with an elderly couple perched on the tree, watching the sunset behind Mt. Fuji. A film lens dangles from a branch, subtly nodding to cinema's magic.

Look closer, and the image transforms into something entirely different - a mesmerizing skull emerges from the composition, adding an unexpected surrealistic twist. This clever optical illusion invites viewers to explore the fascinating interplay between dreams and reality that defines Japanese cinema's most imaginative works.

Click here to view the CJ 2014 trailer

2013 / Contradition
Where Heritage Meets Revolution

In our inaugural collaboration with Dutch illustrator Zeloot, we drew inspiration from traditional Japanese patterns to create captivating graphics for this year's theme, "CONtradition." This unique theme combines the concepts of contradiction and tradition, resulting in a dynamic and thought-provoking blend. By incorporating traditional Japanese motifs into the artwork, we pay homage to the rich cultural heritage while exploring the tension between contrasting elements.

Click here to view the CJ 2013 trailer

2012 / Japalicious
Taste the Soul of Japan

The 7th edition of this vibrant festival celebrated Japan's incredible culinary landscape, exploring how food weaves through every aspect of life and society—beautifully captured in Japanese cinema from Tampopo's playful noodle obsession to Jiro Dreams of Sushi's artisanal mastery.

This immersive showcase honored Japan's rich gastronomic heritage while taking guests on a flavorful journey through the intricate connections between cuisine, culture, and storytelling. From traditional techniques to modern innovations, the festival highlighted the captivating narratives that make Japanese food culture so uniquely compelling—both on the plate and on screen.

To read more about this project, click here. 

2011 / Made in Japan?
Blurring Borders, Redefining Identity

The 2011 festival embraced "Made in Japan?" as its provocative theme, challenging traditional boundaries of Japanese identity. What truly defines "authentic" Japanese culture, and where do those definitions end?

This edition showcased an intriguing mix: foreign directors filming in Japan with Japanese actors, and Japanese filmmakers creating work abroad. The programming deliberately blurred cultural lines, questioning fixed notions of national identity.

In a groundbreaking collaboration with Shanghai-based German-Chinese duo Idlebeats, the festival presented striking visuals that merged quintessential Japanese elements with unexpected foreign influences. These artistic fusions perfectly captured the festival's core mission—sparking fresh dialogue about cultural identity in our interconnected world.

Through this bold curatorial vision, the festival invited audiences to reconsider how cultural exchange shapes and reshapes what it means to be "Japanese" in a globalized era.

2010 / Pleasure & Pain
Japan's Beautiful Contradictions

Japan's 2010 festival edition explores "Pleasure & Pain" – the fascinating contradictions and contrasts that make Japanese society so captivating and complex.

Tokyo photographer Kaoru Yamada's striking festival graphic perfectly captures this duality: models holding candied apples pierced with needles. The sweet temptation meets sharp reality, creating a powerful visual metaphor for Japan's cultural paradoxes.

This provocative image invites you to explore the intricate layers beneath Japan's surface – where beauty and brutality, tradition and modernity, pleasure and pain dance together in an eternal, mesmerizing balance.

2009 / New Playground
Where Youth Meets Imagination

This year marked a creative turning point as CAMERA JAPAN introduced themed programming to elevate the festival experience.

Celebrating Rotterdam's designation as "The Youth Capital of Europe" in 2009, the festival embraced "New Playgrounds" as its central theme. Belgian artist Mademoiselle Annette brought this vision to life through captivating and delightfully mischievous illustrations that adorned the festival materials. Adding to the playful spirit, all typography was hand-drawn with the left hand, creating an intentionally childlike aesthetic that perfectly captured the festival's youthful energy.

This thoughtful design approach transformed the entire festival into an immersive playground, celebrating creativity, youth culture, and the boundless power of imagination.

2008 / Red Dot
From Film Reels to Cultural Feels

Since its inception in 2006 as a Japanese film festival, the festival has grown exponentially, both in scale and scope. This year, it embarked on exploring new territories and incorporating diverse program parts. With the introduction of new disciplines, the festival underwent a transformation, evolving from a Japanese film festival into a multidisciplinary cultural festival.

As part of this transformation, a sleek and minimalist logo was crafted to replace the previous film reel visual identity. The minimalist design of the logo signifies a fresh direction, reflecting the festival's commitment to presenting a diverse range of artistic disciplines and providing an enriching experience for attendees.

To read more about this project, click here. 

Photography by Kaoru Yamada

2007 / Neon Signs
Electric Dreams Meet Tokyo Streets

The 2007 festival graphics drew inspiration from Tokyo's dazzling neon signs—those luminous beacons that transform the city into a kaleidoscope of color after dark. Each glowing sign tells a story of urban energy and endless possibility, capturing the raw dynamism that pulses through Tokyo's streets day and night.

2006 / Kappa
A Magical Cinematic Journey Begins

The inaugural CAMERA JAPAN poster featured an enchanting scene that perfectly captured the festival's magical spirit. Against a dreamy sky backdrop, a flying movie projector soared through the clouds, piloted by Kappa—a delightful mythical Japanese creature blending monkey and frog characteristics.

This whimsical artwork came to life through collaboration with Ludvig Gustafson, a talented Swedish illustrator and designer. The poster beautifully embodied the festival's essence, inviting audiences to join an extraordinary journey of cinematic wonder and discovery.