The Story of FED.

Hi, I’m Yusuke Nagata @_nuts.tokyo_, the founder of FAR EAST DARKROOM (FED.).

FED. began in 2023 as a community brand for emerging photographers in Japan and across Asia. In an era where many "photographers" only showcase their work on social media, FED. was founded with the aim of supporting photographers who are passionate about creating prints, including darkroom prints, and those who regularly engage in exhibitions and zine/book production.

The Story Behind FAR EAST DARKROOM

The idea for FED. came to me in 2022, shortly after my grandmother passed away in Hokkaido. I converted one of the now-empty rooms in her house into a darkroom.

At first, I considered turning it into an artist-in-residence space. But with the location over 1,000 km from Tokyo and other practical challenges, I set the plan aside. Still, the idea of building a community around the darkroom stayed with me.

Despite rising film costs and the shift toward digital, I had friends who not only kept shooting on film but also developed and printed their work in home darkrooms. Their work was incredible—I wanted more people to see it.

In my community, I also saw photographers creating amazing zines and unique print works, not just darkroom prints. I wanted to showcase not only their digital images online, but also the tangible forms of their work—prints, zines, and books. That’s when I decided to start a brand dedicated to amplifying their voices.

The name “FAR EAST DARKROOM” reflects my desire to share distinctive photographic works from Japan—this corner of the Far East—with the world.

Bringing Asian Photographers’ Zines to the World

The situation for photographers differs across countries, but in Japan, the decline of print magazines has meant less editorial support.

Photographers today often have to manage not just creating their work, but also promoting and selling it themselves. Yet not every photographer has these business skills. Many young photographers struggle with how to effectively use social media and market themselves.

From a logistics standpoint, it’s also rare to see zines by Asian photographers stocked in Western bookstores. More often, the shelves are filled with photobooks by legendary names like Daido Moriyama or Nobuyoshi Araki.

Through FED., we want to shine a spotlight on emerging photographers from Japan and across Asia—introducing their zines and print works to audiences worldwide. By taking on the distribution side, FED. gives photographers more space to focus on creating.

One of FED.’s zines got featured on Ted Forbes’ YouTube channel The Art of Photography — with 880K subscribers.

More Than Digital: Breathing Life Into Photography

Today, the cycle of photography often ends in digital form—shooting, editing, and posting on social media.

But precisely because smartphones allow anyone to capture beautiful images, I believe photographers should go beyond digital—exploring prints, zines, exhibitions, and other forms of expression.

FED. is dedicated to pushing these new directions in photography. Through our website, we’ll continue to share these efforts with you. We hope you’ll follow along.

Follow us on Instagram @fareastdarkroom to stay connected with our community and projects.