"Kashima Antlers x RK Collaboration Goods" On Sale

"Kashima Antlers x RK Collaboration Goods" will be available for purchase at the KASHIMA ANTLERS ONLINE STORE from Friday, October 20th.

◆RK
While working at a graphic design company, RK began shooting and editing exclusively with an iPhone in 2013. RK, a multifaceted artist involved in photography, graphic design, and DJing, rose to prominence as the exclusive iPhone Photographer for the running crew "AFE TOKYO." In 2017, he held an event at Apple Ginza. While continuing his work as a graphic designer and DJ, he fully pursued his career as a photographer, becoming freelance in April 2018. Switching to a DSLR camera, he produced numerous iconic works such as "Akihabara Old Man" and "Taipei Grand Bridge Motorcycles." Additionally, his work in Fujiyoshida City was shared on Instagram's official account, and his own follower count reached approximately 700,000. He is currently one of Japan's most notable artists. RK's works, which capture portraits of numerous celebrities including Takashi Murakami, KAWS, TYGA, and Naomi, as well as street scenes, buildings, and nature with fantastical colors, have garnered attention not only in Japan but also from many international media outlets. He is actively involved in collaborations with various brands, primarily in Asia.

◆Comment from RK
I was very happy to receive the offer to photograph Kashima Antlers. As I am from Ibaraki, I vividly remember going to Kashima Stadium with my youth baseball team teammates to cheer for the Antlers when the J-League first started. I also recall how the supporters' cheering styles and chants, which were different from baseball's, were quickly adopted by my youth baseball team, only to be furiously reprimanded by the coach (laughs).
About 30 years have passed since then. I never dreamed that I would be photographing Kashima Antlers in this way. I played baseball until high school, but I've never had a baseball photography job (laughs). Fortunately, I had the opportunity to photograph Paris Saint-Germain's Japan tour last year and this year. I followed the PSG players from their arrival at the hotel, to their stay, and their movements, capturing everything with my camera. Of course, I also photographed the matches. During that time, I researched how to photograph soccer players to make them look cool. I even struggled to understand the rules of soccer, so I desperately memorized them (laughs). It was different from my usual shooting style and methods, and I remember it being a lot of fun. Especially the media photographers during matches, with a camera in one hand and a laptop in the other, instantly shooting and sending photos. And even adding comments... I was very impressed. Utilizing that experience, I believe I was able to take photos at the Kashima Antlers match that reflect the results of my own research.
The silence of the stadium in the early morning. The sweat of the players, their incredibly fast movements, their muscles, and the veins beneath. The passion and excitement of the supporters. Both sides cheering and playing in the same place, at the same time, on the same day. What was the weather like? What about the wind direction? How was the light coming in? How would a shot look depending on how I took it? I thought about these things as I photographed. I hope you enjoy looking at my photos.