Reflecting on the lessons he’s learned from observing cats, Oki shared with Bored Panda that before he started photographing them, he hadn’t realized how far cats would go to charm their way into getting food. "Before starting cat photography, I didn't know that cats go all out to charm their way into getting food. When I saw this behavior, even the proudest cats would act affectionately to achieve their goal. At that time, I was a corporate employee and not a very affable person. My work wasn't going well, so I tried to apply the friendliness I learned from cats to improve it. Although it was too late to see any improvement, I learned it was an important lesson for me."
When it comes to dedication, Oki doesn’t hold back—especially during his visits to Japan’s famous “cat islands.” He described how he structures his photography trips around full-day sessions. "When I want to do a lot of shooting, I take a five-day trip to one of Japan’s cat islands. During these trips, I photograph relentlessly from sunrise to sunset. For instance, in mid-July, I visited a cat island in Kagawa Prefecture. I photographed from 5:00 AM to 8:30 AM, had breakfast, then photographed from around 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, had lunch, and continued photographing cats from around 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM. The photos I take are edited in Photoshop Lightroom on the same day."
He also touches on the more philosophical side of his work, describing how the cats themselves seem to guide his process. "Sometimes I feel as if the cats are telling me to capture the moment, making them my photography teachers. Personally, I also love the photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson. I try to express my own personality by holding the camera and observing the cat's behavior (eye movements and reactions). Once you know the quirks, you can predict the future and find the best shooting position."
What truly captivates Oki is the emotional range and individuality cats display—something he aims to capture in every photo.
"Cats are cute on the outside and adorable on the inside, where their fragile emotions are easily expressed in their attitudes. I realized that the relationships between cats and people are as complex as with humans and that each cat has its own identity. I like to express this in my photographs, where the moments and expressions reveal the individuality of each cat without overlooking them."
After more than a decade behind the lens, Oki says his goal has remained consistent: to bring joy through his images. "I've been photographing cats for 10 years now. I've always hoped that my cat photos would bring happiness to people around the world, and I approach my photography with that belief. It might sound laughable, but my feelings about this haven’t changed. So, if I could hold a photo exhibition somewhere in the world and publish a photo book that brings happiness to someone, that would be great. I believe my dreams are gradually taking shape. Also, I hope to be able to photograph cats somewhere in the world."
