Case Study
Discover
Capturing the Soul of a Japanese Cultural Haven
Shofukan, a renowned Japanese cultural center in Rotterdam, needed visual storytelling that conveyed the tranquility and authenticity of their space - a converted school housing a traditional tea house, dojo, and Japanese garden. Though commissioned by a Japanese cultural organization rather than the center itself, we approached this project with the same strategic precision we apply to commercial work, delivering both a 1-minute teaser and a 12-minute documentary that showcased the center's cultural significance.
Client
Shofukan (commisioned through a Japanese Cultural Organisation)
Industry
Culture
Year
2024
Services
Leadership Interviews, Mini-Documentaries
About Project
Authentic Representation Through Minimal Intervention
Our approach prioritised unobtrusive documentation - using natural lighting and ambient sound to capture the essence of Shofukan without disrupting its daily rhythms. Through careful pre-production planning, we completed all filming in a single day, focusing on genuine moments between the owner couple and the serene atmosphere of the space itself. The resulting footage authentically represented the centre's mission of bringing authentic Japanese culture to Europe.
Strategic Distribution for Maximum Impact
Though created as a gifted project for the cultural centre, we structured the deliverables for versatile application - providing both short-form content for social media engagement and longer-form documentation for educational purposes. This approach demonstrated our ability to create assets with multiple strategic applications while working within constrained timelines and budgets.
In Concluding
A testament to cultural nuance
This project exemplifies our cultural competency and ability to present Japanese culture authentically to European audiences - a core service we offer Japanese enterprises expanding to Europe. It showcases our technical ability to work efficiently under time constraints while producing high-quality results that serve both promotional and archival purposes. The project also demonstrates our commitment to cultural preservation, a value that resonates deeply with both Japanese and European clients seeking to bridge cultural gaps.