A Conversation with Tokyo Based Photobook Store & Gallery Salt & Pepper

- Where are you located in the world, and what is the story behind the name of "Salt & pepper"? 

Salt & Pepper is an art gallery & photo book store located in Tokyo, Japan in the heart of Shibuya.

友人から自分の髪色をそのように言われたことがキッカケです。今までは自分の洋服のブランドを始め、能動的に物事を決めていたんだけど、このお店は色々な作家や物事と関わっていこうと思ってたから、人から言われた言葉を名前に決めたんだ。

“[The name Salt & Pepper] was triggered by a friend commenting on my hair color. Until now, I had been actively making decisions, starting my own clothing brand, but since I wanted this store to be involved with various creators and things, I decided to name it after the words I was told by others.”

- Tell us about some photo books or zines available at Salt & pepper! 

オープン当初は海外のBOOK FAIRに行って仕入たりしていたけど、最近ではジャンルや国籍に問わず、僕らの活動を理解してくれている作家とコミュニケーションを取りながら選定しているよ。

あと、ここ数年は自主出版にも力を入れている。

“When we first opened, we used to go to overseas book fairs to source books, but recently, regardless of genre or nationality, we have been selecting books while communicating with authors who understand our activities.

Also, in recent years, I have been focusing on self-publishing.”

- What other events happen at Salt & pepper? How can photographers work with you all?

ロンドンの若い写真家やフランスのペインター、日本で陶器をつくっている作家等、多岐に渡ったイベントを計画しているよ。

僕らと何か一緒にやりたいなら、まずは気軽にお店に来てほしいな！直接会って話そう！

“I'm planning a variety of events featuring young photographers from London, painters from France, and ceramic artists from Japan, among others.

If you want to do something with us, first, I hope you'll casually come to the store! Let's meet and talk directly!”

(The next few questions are with Salt & Pepper staff members): 

- Name, age, where are you from, what format in photography do you like using, what are you currently working on if you are? 

→KOHEI OHKITA、48歳、東京、SALT AND PEPPERオーナー / VAINL ARCHIVEデザイナー

　フォーマット、特に無いです。

→KOHEI OHKITA, 48 years old, Tokyo, Owner of SALT AND PEPPER / Designer at VAINL ARCHIVE

Format, nothing in particular.

- What about your surroundings/environments and upbringing interested you? 

→若い頃はスポーツに夢中でした。高校生くらいから洋服とDJに興味を持ちレコードを買う時、ジャケットのビジュアルにハマったのが最初かな。

When I was young, I was really into sports. Around high school, I became interested in clothes and DJing, and the first time I got hooked was when I bought records and was captivated by the visuals on the covers.

　
- When was the first time you met photography? How did you feel when you met it?

→修学旅行で学校が手配したカメラマンがランダムに生徒を撮って、それを学校の掲示板に貼られているのを見たのが最初です。

　自分が被写体になるのを見て恥ずかしかったのを覚えてます。

→The first time I saw it was when the photographer arranged by the school for the school trip randomly took pictures of the students and posted them on the school bulletin board.

I remember feeling embarrassed when I saw myself as the subject.

- Tell us about current projects you have been working on (could be any, or just work you have been doing in general at Salt & Pepper). Is this story inspired out of personal reasons, or others? What are you most excited about in these projects? 

→様々な作家と本を作っています。

　自分はデザイン、印刷まで立ち会うので、過程と出来上がったものを手にした瞬間に興奮しますね。

→We are creating books with various authors.

Since I am involved in the design and printing process, I get excited the moment I see the finished product.

- What are some of your favorite photo books? 

→中平卓馬 / Takuma Nakahira　“ADUEX"

- Imagine meeting someone who is picking up a camera for the first time. What do you tell them?

→とりあえずシャッターを押してみて。

→For now, just press the shutter.

- Name, age, where are you from, what format in photography do you like using, what are you currently working on if you are? 

TANAKA GAKUです。43歳。東京の隣で生まれました。ポートレートやドキュメンタリーフォトが好きです。

現在は2人の子供を育てています。

I am TANAKA GAKU. 43 years old. I was born next to Tokyo. I like portrait and documentary photography.

Currently, I am raising two children.

- What about your surroundings/environments and upbringing interested you? 

親や周りの友達も音楽とファッションに興味がある人が多かったから、自分も自然とそれらに興味を持つようになりました。

Many of my parents and friends around me were also interested in music and fashion, so I naturally became interested in them as well.

- When was the first time you met photography? How did you feel when you met it?

先述したように音楽とファッションが好きだったので、レコードのカバー写真やファッション誌の広告写真で初めて写真家を意識して、彼らの作品を見た時が初めての出会いです。最初はなぜこれを写真に収めたのかなーと単純な疑問を持った記憶があります。

As I mentioned earlier, I loved music and fashion, so I first became aware of photographers through record cover photos and fashion magazine advertising photos, and my first encounter with their work was when I saw their work. I remember at first I had a simple question, “Why did they photograph this?”

- Tell us about current projects you have been working on (could be any, or just work you have been doing in general at Salt & Pepper). Is this story inspired out of personal reasons, or others? What are you most excited about in these projects? 

僕も趣味でフィルムカメラを使って写真を撮る事があるのだけど、自分が撮った同じ場所で子供にもシャッターを切らせることにハマっています。僕よりよっぽど素敵な写真があがってくるから、いつも現像するのがとても楽しみです。

I also take pictures with a film camera as a hobby, and I am addicted to having my children release the shutter at the same place I took the picture. I always look forward to developing the film because the pictures come out much better than mine.

- What are some of your favorite photo books? 

Peter Sutherland　『Autograf』です。

彼の撮るポートレートはいつも素敵だし、この本ではGrafitti Writerが顔を隠さずに写っている。彼にしか出来ない事だと思います。

それと、僕がSALT AND PEPPERで働き始める前に、初めてSALT AND PEPPERで購入した写真集だから、その思い出もあります。

Peter Sutherland “Autograf”.

His portraits are always nice and in this book, Grafitti Writer does not hide his face. I think only he could do that.

Also, it was the first book I bought from Salt and Pepper before I started working there, so I have fond memories of it.

- Imagine meeting someone who is picking up a camera for the first time. What do you tell them?

僕も含めて、日本人は言葉で感情を表現する事が苦手な人が多いと思うから、

写真を通してそれを表現出来るようになると便利かもしれないですね笑

I think many Japanese people, myself included, are not good at expressing their feelings through words, it might be useful to be able to express them through photos.

- Name, age, where are you from, what format in photography do you like using, what are you currently working on if you are? 

→Oraina Kumagai (Orua)27歳 日本の北海道出身です

好きな写真のフォーマットは Conceptual photography と思い出を感じられるDocumentary Photographyです。

現在初めてZineの作成に取り組んでいて、

4月に初めてアメリカに行ったんですけど、その時に出たThe Speed ProjectというランニングレースについてのZineを作成しています。

Oraina Kumagai (Orua), age 27, from Hokkaido, Japan.

My favorite photo formats are Conceptual Photography and Documentary Photography, where I can feel the memories.

I am currently working on my first zine, I went to the U.S. for the first time in April, and I am working on a zine about a running race called The Speed Project that I attended.

- What about your surroundings/environments and upbringing interested you? 

→私のお母さんが元々ファッションデザイナーだったこともあり、小さい頃からファッションに興味がありました。

そして私が生まれ育った北海道は自然と人間との距離が近かったので、動物と自然にも関心がります。

→My mother used to be a fashion designer, so I have been interested in fashion since I was a child.

I was also interested in animals and nature since I was born and raised in Hokkaido, where nature and humans are very close.

- When was the first time you met photography? How did you feel when you met it?

→初めて写真と出会ったのは家族が私のことを撮ってくれた時です。おじいちゃんもお母さんも写真が趣味で私のことをよくフィルムで撮ってくれていました。私は撮られる側だったのでいつも少し緊張していました。

→My first encounter with photography was when my family took pictures of me. My grandfather and mother both enjoyed photography and often took pictures of me on film. I was always a little nervous because I was the one being photographed.

- Tell us about current projects you have been working on (could be any, or just work you have been doing in general at Salt & Pepper). Is this story inspired out of personal reasons, or others? What are you most excited about in these projects? 

→SALT AND PEPPERをベースにランニングコミュニティを企画しています。個人的にアートとスポーツは近いものを感じます、どちらにも人の心を動かすパワーがあると思うので

その二つが近づくことで起きる化学反応と、どうしたら自由にその二つを表現することができるかワクワクしています。

もし日本に来ることがあったら普段走ってるかたもまだ走ったことない方も、ぜひ参加してほしいです!!

→I am planning a running community based on SALT AND PEPPER. Personally, I feel that art and sports are very close, and both have the power to move people's hearts. I am excited about the chemical reactions that can occur when these two things come together and how I can freely express both. If you ever come to Japan, whether you are a regular runner or have never run before, I hope you will join us!

- What are some of your favorite photo books? 

→Peter SutherlandのWelcome strangerです。

人生で初めて購入したzineなのでお気に入りです

→Welcome stranger by Peter Sutherland. It's my favorite zine because it's the first one I bought in my life!

- Imagine meeting someone who is picking up a camera for the first time. What do you tell them?

→撮りたいと思う瞬間、心が動く瞬間を身逃さないで!!笑

→Don't miss the moment when you want to take a picture, the moment when your heart moves!