Camera no Kitamura Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kazuhiro Fukumoto), which operates Shinjuku 北村写真機店 (Kitamura Camera), will hold a photo exhibition titled "愛しき虫たち" (Beloved Insects) by Hiyori Katada (片田 陽依), an insect producer who is also active as an actress and composer.
Katada has drawn attention for her appearances on TBS's クレイジージャーニー (Crazy Journey, aired June 15) and NHK's ザ・バックヤード 知の迷宮の裏側探訪 (The Backyard: Exploring the Hidden Side of the Labyrinth of Knowledge, aired July 22), and now brings her world of "Beloved Insects" to the gallery. The exhibition looks into the true "faces" of insects, offering something adults can enjoy while also giving children on summer break a chance to have fun — and perhaps even find a hint for their summer independent-study project. The exhibition runs from Monday, August 3 to Sunday, August 16, 2026.
An Invitation to a Tiny World
Hiyori Katada has loved insects since childhood, and it was her wish to share that love with more people that led her into entertainment work. Since she was young, she has peered into patches of grass, lain on the ground, walked through mountains, and sometimes waited in the same spot for hours at a time, chasing after the expressions on insects' faces. As an insect enthusiast, she has photographed countless insects, capturing their round eyes, comical expressions, and breathtakingly beautiful moments, and this exhibition presents the photos that have stayed with her the most. Through photography, visitors can appreciate the charm of insects at a size not normally visible to the naked eye. Enjoy the tiny world of "Beloved Insects."
Exhibition Overview
- Dates: Monday, August 3 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Venue: 北村写真機店 B1F Basement Gallery
Photographer Profile
Hiyori Katada (片田 陽依)
Actress, composer, and insect producer. Born in 2004. Her work is rooted in a desire to share the appeal of insects. In addition to appearing in films and dramas, she also composes background music, and shares the charm of insects through photography, video, illustration, lectures at academic societies and local governments, serving as an instructor for insect observation events, and her YouTube channel "ひよりの虫日記" (Hiyori's Insect Diary), among other activities.
Through her curiosity about and familiarity with insects, she aims to create an entry point for broader interest in changes in the natural environment and biodiversity.
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiyori_katada/
- Insect-photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piyo_bug/
- Official YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCBYFb5Tynk3s7sy4KI8iJ8w
Notable appearances (partial list):
- TBS's クレイジージャーニー (Crazy Journey)
- NHK's ザ・バックヤード 知の迷宮の裏側探訪 (The Backyard: Exploring the Hidden Side of the Labyrinth of Knowledge)
- Lead role of Sato Igawa in the film イルカはフラダンスを踊るらしい (It Seems Dolphins Dance the Hula)
- Lily Franky's スナック・ラジオ (Snack Radio) on Tokyo FM
About the Basement Gallery
The Basement Gallery is a photography gallery located on the B1F of Shinjuku 北村写真機店. It relocated and reopened here in June 2024 after previously being on the 6th floor of the same building. Born from the concept of "sending out photography culture from underground," the Basement Gallery continues to communicate the appeal of photography to everyone who loves it. Visitors can enjoy photography- and camera-related events, including photo exhibitions by photographers active across a range of industries as well as collaborative projects with manufacturers.
About Shinjuku Kitamura Camera
Photo: © Jun Udagawa
北村写真機店 opened in July 2020 in Shinjuku, a mecca for camera lovers, as a specialty store offering photography- and camera-related lifestyle proposals. Spanning floors from the basement to the upper levels, the store offers new and used camera sections, a vintage salon centered on Leica, a service counter supporting repairs and everyday maintenance, and an event space used for photo exhibitions, among other content catering to a range of photography needs. In June 2024, a Leica boutique also opened on the 6th floor, with the store continuing to offer content for both longtime photography and camera enthusiasts and beginners alike.
