The internal sounds of a mechanical wristwatch were recorded using a specialized microphone. Those recordings were then reconstructed into an audiovisual work. At the core of the movement is the balance wheel, oscillating eight times per second — what the watch industry refers to as “8 beats.” The work was inspired by the resonance between this rhythm and the concept of the 8-beat rhythm in music. When recorded, the rhythm proved to be extremely precise, yet the pitch fluctuated ever so slightly. Precise, yet somehow organic. This sensation — constant, yet subtly unstable — is expressed through both sound and visuals. In the CG work, rather than simply recreating the internal structure and metallic textures of the watch, we took an abstract approach to visualize “the vibration of time itself.” Within an exact cyclical motion, slight fluctuations begin to emerge. Through layers of light, vibration, repetition, and microscopic shifts, the piece visualizes the “vibration of time” occurring inside a mechanical watch.

We planned and produced a brand film for BUTTERFLY, a brand owned by Tamasu, one of the world’s leading table tennis equipment manufacturers based in Suginami, Tokyo. This time, we featured Fan Zhendong, the Chinese player who has won the World Table Tennis Championships twice, earned a gold medal at last year’s Paris Olympics, and become a Grand Slam champion. The key message is Focus Within. (The one you need to face is yourself.) To develop the skill that allows him to surpass other players in every aspect—spin, speed, timing, control, and tactics—and earn admiration from table tennis fans around the world, we portray the dialogue he has had with himself over many years and the meticulous way he has honed his technique, together with his own voice-over, sharp visual expression, and sound design. The film has received an outstanding response across the board, including more than 1 million views overnight after its release on Butterfly’s official global Instagram account. Please take a look.

Sony - Responsible for directing/producing the promotional videos for INZONE Buds and INZONE H5.

Brand film for the table tennis brand Butterfly. It beautifully intertwines live-action footage featuring rallies between 16-year-old prodigy Tomokazu Harimoto and German top player Timo Boll with CG, tightly synchronized to sharp sound design, depicting the brand’s worldview and the product’s powerful spin. This project began with the brief: “We want a video with an overseas feel that completely refreshes the image of table tennis, which is strongly associated with school club activities.” It was a collaboration with an amazing team, including director Takcom, who has worked with us since the days of W+K Tokyo Lab, the predecessor of JKD, and media artist Nobumichi Asai. Through many discussions with a passionate client and numerous staff members, this work was created with a focus on how to fuse the authenticity of the sport of table tennis with creativity.

JKD planned and produced a brand film for Goldwin Athletic / Outdoor. The brand film was screened at Goldwin’s booth at “OutDoor by ISPO,” the world’s largest trade show, held in Munich in the summer of 2019. Inspired by Japanese haiku, the 90-second film depicts a runner’s journey from the city to nature across a three-screen multiscreen setup. Like the brand’s previous ski film, this work embodies Goldwin’s philosophy of unwavering minimalism and received an excellent response on site.

JKD produced a brand movie for Helly Hansen, the Norwegian brand known for its highly functional waterproof wear. The concept, “BE WITH WATER,” expresses the world of a brand that has been connected to “water” for more than 140 years through waterproof technologies for sailing, trekking, snow sports, and more. Directed by Yasuhito Tsuge, the film portrays the journey of water—from rain falling from the sky, through mountains and rivers, and out to the sea—from the perspective of a trekker. Through magnificent natural landscapes, bold close-ups, and restrained sound design, the work conveys a sense of awe toward nature, as well as Japanese aesthetics and spirituality.

Brand film for C3fit IN-Pulse, a product that lets you measure your heartbeat just by wearing it. Heart rate data sent from runners was converted into beats in real time through programming and a PA system, then played on a track and field course. The film documents the creation of “heartbeat music,” generated by the heartbeat rhythms played by multiple runners and the ensemble they formed together. Although it was a technically demanding project, the skills and focus of the elite team led by Kosai Sekine worked a miracle, successfully capturing the runners at their very best. While highlighting the product’s features, the film keeps its narrative focus squarely on “people,” getting as close as possible to the runners’ genuine emotional shifts—moments of inspiration, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment.

A global campaign originating from Japan for Asics Tiger. In conjunction with the worldwide launch of shoes made from a special material that changes color depending on the viewing angle, the creative work co-produced by JKD and Beacon Communications was rolled out in July 2016 as a global campaign spanning North America, Asia, and Europe. In the video, the story of a protagonist like a chameleon, who blends into the bustle of the city and disappears or stands out with a striking presence, is expressed using a technique called slit-scan. In collaboration with director Hiroshi Kondo and composer Yoshiteru Himuro, it was completed as a powerful branded music video.

A new Airbnb series, “Not Yet Trending,” showcases the world’s most captivating cities gaining attention as travel destinations through edgy visual expression. For the first Japan installment, we produced a film featuring Kanazawa at JKD. This time, we took on a new challenge: a hybrid form that combines a music video and a documentary. By skillfully blending a powerful track based on the Japanese musical scale with the stories of four hosts, we present the refined charm of Kanazawa in a new way.