Hiroshi Yamada, the president of The Spirit of Japan Party (Nippon Soshinto), a right Wing/Nationalist political party campaigning in Tokyo for the 2010 Upper House elections.%0AHiroshi Yamada was the mayor of Tokyo's Suginami Ward before stepping down after eleven years to run in the House of Councillors election in the Tokyo district. His party has ties with the right-wing Shinzo Abe-led bipartisan group of lawmakers, "Sosei-Nippon," and the Sunrise Party of Japan, led by Takeo Hiranuma. Recently (2012) he has disbanded the Spirit of Japan Party to join the Japanese Restoration Party formed by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and Shintaro Ishihara the ex-governor of Tokyo.

Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDP), campaigning in support of candidates in a local election in Machida, Tokyo, Japan. Sunday, February 14th 2010. Fukushima San has been leader of the SDP since 2003 and held cabinet posts as the minister of consumer and social affairs, food safety and gender equality when the SDP was a junior partner in the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) led government under Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama September 2009 to May 2010) before being fired over the issue of U.S. bases in Okinawa and subsequently withdrawing her SDP party from the coalition, She is also a vocal anti-nuclear proponent.

Nico Jimenez of Extremadura in Spain cuts a record slice of Iberico ham at 13.35 metres, beating his own world record set in 2008 by three more centimetres. Sponsored by Iberselec, Nico Jimenez is the most famous of the 10 Maestro Cortadores in Spain and the current holder of of the Cuchillo de Oro (golden knife) award. He has cut Iberico ham from Iberselec for Spanish royalty, music artists like David Bisbal, the tennis champion, Rafael Nadal and, most recently, the victorious Spanish Soccer team after their arrival in Spain from the World Cup in Johannesburg. This Guinness record event took place at the Hattori Nutritional College in Tokyo, Japan. September 23rd 2010.

Shii Kazuo, the leader of the Japansese Communist Party (Nihon Kyosanto) , campaigning with candidate, Kimie Hatano, in the rain Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Friday, July 9th 2010

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, campaigning in support of the Sosei Nippon Party (a faction of the Liberal Demorcratic Party or LDP) at a rally in Shibuya to protest the granting of local election voting rights to foreign permanent residents of Japan. Shinzo Abe was Japan's youngest Prime Minister and held the office from September 26th 2006 until September 12th 2007. He won re-election to the post in November 2012. These images were taken when he didn't hold office and was trying to re-establish his reputation and right-wing credentials in politics. Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan Wednesday, April 7th 2010

Sony Playstation CEO, Shuhei Yoshida at Sony Computer Entertainment offices in Aoyama itchome in Tokyo, Japan. January 2010

Japanese musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto talking at the Peace on Earth event held in Hibiya Park, Tokyo to remember the victim on the March 11th Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Sunday March 11th 2012. Japan Also featured in advertising in central Tokyo

Ex-Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, campaigning in the 2012 General Election for the Japan Restoration Party in Tokyo. I well known right-wing and divisive character in Japanese politics. Ishihara left the role of Tokyo Governor shortly after his re-election to attempt a return to national politics by allying himself with the popular right-wing mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto and his new national party. The election is due on December 16th and it is expected that small right-wing parties such at the Japan Restoration Party will be the king makers in coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on its expected return to power.

Actor and anti-nuclear power campaigner, Taro Yamamoto, campaigns for election to the Japanese government as an independent representing Tokyo's Suginami Ward. Ogikubo, Tokyo, Japan December 14th 2012. Yamamoto was supported by volunteers from left wing unions and anti-nuclear activists. he was joined on the campaign by famous idol, singer and actor Kenji Sawada, who drew large crowds and helped get Yamamoto's message out to many potential voters.

Former professional wrestler, Antonio Inoki campaigning in Shinjuku for the right-wing Japan Restoration Party during the run up to the House of Councillors election on July 21st 2013. Inoki is a TV personality and famous wrestler and mixed martial art fighter. One of the founders of the JRP, Shintaro Ishihara, says that Inoki's presence in politics will bring back manliness to the profession. Inoki's much loved public persona is also expected to repair some of the damage caused to the Japan Restoration Party by the frequent faux pas of Ishihara and other co-founder Toru Hashimoto.

Naoto Kan speaking at an anti nuclear demo outside the Japanese National Diet building in Kasumigasaki in Tokyo. Naoto Kan was the Prime Minster at the time of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11th 2011 and is credited by some for forcing TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) to go back and manage the crisis after they had allegedly been preparing to abandon the plant. He has a long history of environmental and rights activism.

Portraits of Australian scientist, Professor Adrian Cheok. Professor Cheok is one of the world's leading authorities on mixed-reality where computers and robotics are used to augment the reality experienced in wearable computers and soft computing. He has worked at Mitsubishi Electric and the University of Singapore and was given the Young Global Leader award in 2008 by the World Economic Forum. He now works at the Keio Media Design Labs at Keio University in Tokyo and is leading research in the integration of human-like emotions into robots and computers to aid communication, a discipline he calls lovotics.

Actor, Taro Yamamoto campaigning in Tokyo for the Upper House elections that took place on July 21st. Taro Yamamoto ran as an independent candidate in Tokyo on a strong anti-nuclear energy platform. He managed to secure one seat in the five-seat district of Tokyo through concerted campaigning on the internet and an army of 1,200 volunteers nationwide. Japanese celebrities do not usually voice their political opinions and he damaged his acting career in Japan after voicing his opposition to nuclear energy following the March 11th 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused the many problems at Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant. His policies are broadly centre left with hopes to reduce poverty and oppose the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership Trade agreement). He hopes to keep the anti-nuclear debate in Japanese politics.

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe called a snap election in 2014. The first day of campaigning started on December 2nd. The lection takes place on December 14th and is a risk Abe is taking in the hope of getting another 4 years mad ate for his economic and nationalist policies. Right-wing parties like the Japan Innovation Party might be considered natural allies but they are campaigning strongly in hope of weakening the Prime Minister and gaining influence in mainstream politics. The Japan Innovation Party (shin no To) was launched on September 22nd 2014 and grew out of the merger of Osaka mayor, Toru Hashimoto's Japan restoration party and the Unity Party who leader was Kenji Eda. Kenji Eda is seen in this gallery campaigning in Yokohama.

British national and bitcoin trader, Kolin Burges, protested in front of Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange, MT. Gox from February 12th until it filed for bankruptcy protection on February 28th 2014. He wished to confront the company and its directors personally about why he was unable to withdraw his assets but after the company vacated its offices and Mark Karpeles the CEO went into hiding he continued his protest alone outside a shuttered and empty bulding thus attracting considerable media attention. Mt. Gox folded with a massive 27.4 million Dollar discrepancy in it accounts and liabilities of 63.67 Million Dollars to 127,000 creditors. 850,000 bitcoins went missing from the company's wallets which amounted to 7% of the total number bitcoins in existence.

Former Japanese Prime Minister, Morihiro Hosokawa, who was Premier from August 1993 to April 1994, campaigned in the February 2014 Gubernatorial elections in Tokyo. These elections were called after the previous Governor, Noaki Inose was forced to resign because of money scandals. Initially reticent to run he was encouraged and supported in his bid by the popular ex-Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and campaigned on an anti-nuclear power platform that sought to halt the current Prime Minster, Shinzo Abe's pro nuclear power policies. The contest was eventually won by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) backed candidate, Yoichi Masuzoe.

Former Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) Chief of Staff, Toshio Tamogami, is running for election as governor of Tokyo. The election takes place on February 9th and is taking place because the former Governor, Noaki Inose had to resign due to funding scandals. Toshio Tamogami is an unapologetic nationalist who was forced to give up his position as a general in the, de facto, Japanese Air Force (JASDF) when he wrote a essay questioning the accepted history of Japan's aggression in the 1930s and 40s. Since resigning he has been involved in right-wing politics and leads the right-wing pressure and political group, Ganbare Nippon. He is supported in these gubernatorial elections by controversial former governor, Shintaro Ishihara.

Alexandra Chan of Hong Kong based labour-right NGO, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), gave a talk about working conditions in Chinese factories that supply the iconic Japanese fashion brand, Uniqlo on Friday January 16th and demonstrated in front of Uniqlo's flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo on Sunday January 18th. The talk was facilitated by local activist group, Tokyo Spring and detailed the undercover investigation in 2014 that exposed excess overtime and dangerous working conditions at two clothing factories in mainland China. SACOM, along with other workers' rights NGOs in China and Japan, have been pressuring Fast Retailing, who own the Uniqlo brand, to ensure working conditions improve in their suppliers' factories and increase transparency in their supply structures.. Uniqlo and Fast Retailing quickly acknowledged the report when it was published and have stated they intend to investigate and correct the problems outlined.

Prince William the Duke of Cambridge, on a four day visit to Japan in February 2015

Liberal Democratic Party candidate, Junko Mihara at an election rally in Sakuraguicho, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Monday June 27th 2016. The Japanese house of Councillors (Upper House) will hold an election on July 10th.

Taro Aso, the LDP Finance Minster and an ex-Prime Minister supports candidate, Kenji Nakanishi who is standing in the 2016 Upper house elections for the LDP. Nakanishi was campaigning in the fashionable shopping district of Motomachi in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Saturday July 2nd 2016 The Japanese upper house elections will be held on July 10th and will be the first elections that 18 year olds will be able to vote in since the voting age was lowered from 20 in 2015

Yuriko Koike is a politician from the ruling Liberal Democratic party and a former Defence Minister who is standing as the unofficial candidate of the party in the up-comming Toyko Gubernatorial election caused by the resignationn of the scandal-tainted former Governor,Yoichi Mazuzoe. Ms Koike gave a press conference at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan on Friday July 8th to set forward her plans for the city, which will host the 2020 Olympic Games in her term of office, should she be elected.

The first day of electioneering for the 2017 Tokyo Assembly elections officially began on Friday with Yuriko Koike, the popular female Governor of Tokyo, supporting one of around 40 candidates from her own newly-established Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First) party in Shinjuku. Koike is hoping to lessen the power of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the capital.

Yuriko Koike electioneering for her Party of Hope (Kibo no To) at Shibuya crossing, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Friday October 13th 2017 Koike became the Governor of Tokyo after splitting from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and running against their candidate. She formed her own party after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called a snap election. Though not running for office herself this election she remains a popular figure and campaigns for her candidates. and is predicted to weaken Abe's majority. in the Diet.

Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike campaigns in support of election hopeful, Chihiro Araki, from the Governor's newly established Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First) party, in Nakano,Tokyo, Japan. Friday June 30th 2017. The popular female Governor's party is fielding around 40, mostly young candidates hoping to lessen the power of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the capital.

Frenchman, Vincent Fichot began a hunger strike on July 10th 2021 to protest parental child abduction issues in Japan. Vincent's two children were abducted by his ex-wife in 2018 and he hasn't seen them since. He took the drastic step of starting a hunger strike after exhausting all legal avenues to gain access to his children. In Japan joint custody of children when a marriage breaks down is not recognised and sole custody is usually given to the parent the child is living with at the time a court decision is made. This has led to many cases of parents abducting their children and refusing custody negotiations and even visit rights to the other parent who have very little course to challenge the situation through the legal system. Vincent has had to sell his house and give up work to make child maintenance payments and says he has nothing left to lose. He hopes to pressure French President, Emmanuel Macron to raise the issue of Japan's unfair custody laws with the Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga when he attends the Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony.

Doctor Andy Palmer, is a British-born chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman with 35 years of automotive industry experience. He was appointed as the CEO of the British motor-car company, Aston Martin at the end of 2014 and was formally the Executive Vice-President of Renault-Nissan motor company.

Catherine "Jane" Fisher was raped by a US Navy serviceman outside Yokosuka naval base in Japan in 2002. After reporting the rape and identifying the suspect she was treated very badly by the US military authorities, who very quickly moved the attacker out of the country to avoid the legal processes, and also by the Japanese police who proved obstructive and downright inept in their investigation. Since then the Australian mother of three has been fighting for justice for herself and been fight to set up rape crisis centres in Japan and raise the awareness of the need for sensitivity when dealing with this crime as this is seriously lacking in the legal processes and media reporting of rape in Japan.

Politician and entertainer, Makoto Tonami, also known as Mac Akasaka, of the Japan Smile Party has run for various political offices over the last few years including the Governor of Tokyo in 2007 and 2012 and the Governor of Osaka Prefecture in 2011. Well known on for his flamboyant and colourful election speeches, which are often given in costume, and also for his impromptu "concerts" in public areas such as Shibuya's Hachiko Square his policies are broadly right-wing and he labels his party's ambitions as something similar to the US Tea Party movement though he hopes to make Japanese politics more light-hearted and fun, bringing a smile to Japanese people's faces thus making them and the country happier. Makoto Tonami also manages the Smile Therapy Association in Akasaka, Tokyo. Despite sexual assault allegations and other scandals, and after many years of campaigning, Mac Akasaka was successfully elected to a seat on he Minato Ward Assembly during the 2019 local elections.

Makoto Sakurai, the founder and leader the right-wing hate group, Zaitokukai One of the largest hate groups in Japan, with a membership of over 14,000 they regularly take part in hate rallies against Korean and Chinese residents of Japan, despite a change in the law in May of 2015 making such “hate speech” illegal. Makoto has just announced his intention to run for the position of Tokyo Governor in the 2016 elections caused by the resignation of Yōichi Masuzoe in June 2016.

A collection of portrait images of important and famous, and not so famous, people. The majority of these photos were taken for commissioned work, and include both editorial and commercial portraits, but there are also some personal and informal portraits of friends and family and other interesting people I have met while doing my photography.

Taro Aso is the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Finance Minster, and a former Prime Minister of Japan. Well known for his many gaffes he is a controversial and divisive politician