Model Kayako Higuchi in a leopard print coat and bright red skirt standing on an urban street beside a convex road mirror.

Model Kayako Higuchi leaning against a white metal railing wearing an oversized dark cardigan, grey top, and blue denim jeans.

Model Kayako Higuchi reclining on a tatami mat floor wearing a black long-sleeve bodysuit and patterned thigh-high stockings.

Model Kayako Higuchi in a blue fur-trimmed jacket, purple skirt, and knee-high lace-up boots in front of a traditional temple.

Low-angle close-up portrait of model Kayako Higuchi wearing a grey textured knit sweater against a pale sky.

Kayako Higuchi wearing an oversized caramel fur coat and matching fur hat, leaning against a post on an urban street.

Model Kayako Higuchi standing on a wet street wearing a yellow satin blouse, grey vinyl skirt, and red patent knee-high boots.

Model Kayako Higuchi wearing a ruffled red vinyl shirt in front of a traditional shoji screen.

Model Kayako Higuchi lying across the hood of a car wearing a shaggy blue faux fur coat.

Model Kayako Higuchi wearing a dark fur coat, long khaki skirt, and an oversized black fur hat against a tiled building wall.

Model Kayako Higuchi in a voluminous sculptural sheer black dress standing in a traditional Japanese room with shoji screens.

Model Kayako Higuchi wearing a black cowboy hat and turtleneck walking down a wet residential street between white road lines.

Close-up portrait of model Kayako Higuchi reclining in dark ribbed knitwear against a Japanese shoji screen background.

D Repubblica Japan Is A Paradox 2026

About

Japan Is A Paradox serves as a masterful exploration of the intersection between rigid architectural precision and the fluidity of high fashion. Commissioned by D Repubblica, this fashion campaign utilizes a documentary-style aesthetic to dissect the visual tension found within the Japanese urban landscape. Through the lens of photographer Dario Catellani, the project captures an editorial narrative that balances the spontaneity of street style with the deliberate, structured nature of luxury apparel. The execution leans heavily into cinematic compositions, utilizing natural light to elevate the tactile quality of knitwear, vinyl, and voluminous faux fur. Stylist Vittoria Cerciello navigates this juxtaposition with flair, dressing model Kayako Higuchi in ensembles that bridge the gap between avant-garde silhouettes and traditional surroundings. The imagery is defined by a sense of quiet poise, whether the subject is framed by the geometric lines of traditional shoji screens or the industrial harshness of a construction site. By employing soft light and live-action techniques, the project feels less like a static fashion feature and more like a captured moment of urban contemplation. The result is a cohesive visual study that avoids typical tropes, favoring a nuanced approach that resonates with the sophisticated, global sensibilities of modern luxury fashion. The collaboration effectively highlights how fashion can inhabit and transform spaces, turning the streets of Japan into a living gallery of texture, color, and form.