Richard’s Instagram account

Interview Video

Interviews

Shunsuke Ochiai
Okay. Hi,I’m Shunsuke Ochiai, and this is World Insight Interview. We have Richard Cavalleri joining us today. Hello, Richard. Hi, Shun. Nice to talk to you. Thanks. You are in a different time zone with us from us.

Shunsuke Ochiai
And where are you right now?

Richard Cavalleri
I’m currently visiting family in Switzerland.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Switzerland. Nice. How is it over there?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, it’s nice. It’s nice to reconnect with friends and people in the place where I used to live before.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh, okay. So, yeah, briefly, could you tell us about your life? You know, so you were born and you’re originally from Switzerland?

Richard Cavalleri
Yes, I’m a Swiss born Italian, but I’ve been living in these past few years in between Montreal, Canada and Tuscany, Italy.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh wow, so you have two different bases. Yes. Wow. So, yeah, you’re a photographer. When did you start taking photos? When did you start getting interest in that?

Richard Cavalleri
I started taking photos when I was a teenager, quite a few years ago. And then it stuck with me and it really became a passion. But it’s been only since 2020 that I decided to make it a full -time job.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh really? So, you’ve only done it for four years? Yeah, professionally, yes. Wow. And then, you know, your Instagram is so beautiful, you know, with photos, beautiful photos, especially I saw, I see very beautiful photos from Tokyo and Japan.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Thank you so much. Yes. You basically take photos, scenery photos?

Richard Cavalleri
I’m most interested in landscape and cityscape photography, but I also enjoy a lot of street photography that you see maybe less on my Instagram accounts, but that’s also something I like.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Okay, and um, so when did you first come to Japan?

Richard Cavalleri
I first came to Japan last year only. It’s been a dream for many years to come and visit Japan. And as you know, the country was closed. And I think it reopened only in 2022. So, when I had the chance to finally visit, I jumped in a plane and went in spring 2023.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh, okay, nice. And those photos, just beautiful. But, um, yeah, when did you start taking… You know, when did you become interested in Japan?

Richard Cavalleri
Well, it’s one of these countries that I always wish to visit. And, you know, life and kids and work and there was always something else. And the plans kept being postponed, postponed. So, when I decided to do photography as a full -time job, it was the first country, I guess, on my wish list that I said, OK, I want to visit Japan, I want to take pictures of the country and hopefully design a tour and be able to bring people with me in the future.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Okay, what were you expecting from Japan before you came over?

Richard Cavalleri
Well, I was expecting… How can I put it? Organized chaos and… Yeah, this blend of modernity and history and…

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, and um, yeah, do what is your like? What was your favorite spot to take a photo in Japan? Do you have one?

Richard Cavalleri
There are so many places that I really enjoyed. If I had to pick just one, I’d say the area surrounding Mount Fuji is so wonderful. And I really love walking along the lakes and enjoying the scenery.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Hmm. Yeah, so in your perspective, what is the uniqueness of Japan compared to the other countries?

Richard Cavalleri
Well, as I said before, I think this blend of history, traditions and modernity, and I really enjoyed it. I really appreciate it in Japan, is how people are respectful and mindful of others.

Shunsuke Ochiai
you

Richard Cavalleri
and when everybody was welcoming and helpful. Many aspects of Japan that I really love and enjoyed.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Wow. Well, were you, have you ever experienced any Japanese culture while you were growing up in Europe?

Richard Cavalleri
No, not really. Aside, I would say, from the anime that we saw on TV and this kind of stuff.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh, okay. So, what was the anime like, old anime?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, and don’t remember now the specific names, but so and remember in TV there were there were a lot of this anime.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, so where would you like to visit for your next trip? Or do you have a plan?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, well, for my workshop, I’d like to bring people to Tokyo, but then the famous area, around Kyoto and Nara, Mount Fuji again. And on personal note, I’d like to this time take the time to travel more south and also a bit more north in the Sendai Prefecture.

Richard Cavalleri
Oh, Sendai. Is it correct?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah.

Shunsuke Ochiai
And yeah, your last trip from 2023, do you remember like other than taking photos? Do you remember like your experience with like cuisine or like food, you know?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, it was kind of improvised because I was traveling and scouting a lot of areas in order to be able to design the tour. So, I always went on spots or restaurants or on places that were not scouted before.

Richard Cavalleri
It was just a discovery and improvised kind of. But I loved all the food that I had the chance to try. It’s always so flavorful and nice.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Was there something that you’ve never eaten before and you remember that you remember eating in Japan?

Richard Cavalleri
Honestly, not specifically.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Hmm.

Richard Cavalleri
Okay. I tried for the first time the Wagyu. Wagyu! How was that? I haven’t tried it before, I said if I tried, I have to try it in Japan first. I really loved it. Yeah, of course.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, it’s so good. Yeah, it is. Every time I log you, it’s like my first experience of eating wagyu. Well. Yes. And yeah, you were talking about your tour. You’re doing a photo tour？

Richard Cavalleri
Yes, a photography tour in Japan this spring. It’s going to be an 11 days photo tour. And I’d like to take people in these famous areas because most of people who join my tour it’s the first experience in a country and I guess I’d like to visit the most famous places and yeah.

Richard Cavalleri
You don’t go to France on the first trip without going to Paris and you shouldn’t go to Japan on the first trip without visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and Mount Fuji. Of course, there are many many other interesting places in Japan and I’d like to at least on a personal note take time to travel and discover more and hopefully less touristy places also.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Mmm nice and you are coming in this later this spring March later March until

Richard Cavalleri
I’m about a month.

Shunsuke Ochiai
And beginning of until April. So, you’ll be shooting many photos of cherry blossoms, right?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, hopefully we’ll be right in the middle of the cherry blossom season. I hope to get nice pictures as we did last year.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, and yeah, you have beautiful photos from in Tokyo, like there is Tokyo Tower, and then there was Temple in Asakusa. Yes, right. And of course, Mount Fuji, you know, you know, what did you think about like Tokyo Tower when you saw it?

Shunsuke Ochiai
Because a lot of people thinks, well, it is kind of an homage of, you know, Eiffel Tower, but you know, what did you think when you first saw Tokyo Tower? Yeah, it was

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, it was surprising. Of course, we had seen pictures before but just standing there and okay wow and right in the middle of the city surrounded by modern buildings that’s kind of French but liked it

Shunsuke Ochiai
And there’s a right beside Tokyo Tower. There’s a huge temple Yes Zojoji Yeah, correct. That is a very old Japanese temple. And also, I saw some photos from Asakusa. Yes. Sensouji, which is a very popular place for tourists.

Shunsuke Ochiai
And what did you, yeah, like were you overwhelmed with the people or I guess you went there during nighttime?

Richard Cavalleri
Yes, because during the day, as you say, it’s a complete madness. Yeah, and I had a hotel close by.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Mm -hmm.

Richard Cavalleri
And I saw the chance to walk in the temple grounds during the night and it was much, much quieter. And also, early mornings were nice because there’s these cherry trees that always blossoms a little bit earlier than the others.

Richard Cavalleri
And it was nice to take photography there in the early morning.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, yes, yes. And, uh… And it was one in this thing.

Richard Cavalleri
where you don’t find this Zen moment at night, while other temples mentioned before, the one next to the Tokyo Tower.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Mm -hmm.

Richard Cavalleri
It’s one of these places that I enjoyed in Tokyo, that’s, as I said before, Tokyo is like crowds everywhere, but then suddenly you enter a tempered ground and everything slows down and it’s quiet and peaceful.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, exactly shrines and temples once you enter the atmosphere completely changes.

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, right. And in the middle of the city, in the middle of the chaos, there’s this kind of oasis of serenity. And I really enjoyed it.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes. And yeah, how would you describe Tokyo’s color through like, you know, while you were taking photos, have you noticed that Tokyo has a certain color?

Richard Cavalleri
Well, I find it changes and the vibe is completely different from one place to the other whether you are in Asakusa or in Ginza or Shinjuku is so different, almost like being in a different city.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, yes, yes, it does. Tokyo, yeah, is, I guess this is, this might have been a surprise to you, but Tokyo is surprisingly very huge city.

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, very spread out. It’s relatively easy to navigate.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes.

Richard Cavalleri
Now, I read so many things that it was difficult and that you may need some friendly apps and whatever, but in the end, Google does a good job and it was very easy to navigate in different areas of the city.

Shunsuke Ochiai
How are you traveling by train? Were you using public transportations?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, mostly use public transportation in Tokyo and around Japan, with the exception of a Mount Fuji area where it was easier to rent a car and drive around.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Oh, okay. And if you were to give tips to the people who are visiting Japan or Tokyo the first time, what would you advise them to be ready for? Or are there any recommendations that people should prepare before coming to Japan?

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, so don’t be too scared about what you read online. And just get to Tokyo buy Japan Rail Pass, buy a Suica card. And you’ll be able to navigate the metro system and almost all the trains in Japan with just these two cards.

Richard Cavalleri
And it’s relatively easy to do it.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, Japan Rail Pass is only available for people who are living outside of Japan. So that’s a very big benefit.

Richard Cavalleri
or buy it before coming to Japan.

Shunsuke Ochiai
You have to buy it before coming to Japan. Yeah, that’s very important because you can’t buy them in Japan Yeah, correct. Mm -hmm. And Japan rail pass, what Japan rail pass does is that you get to ride, JR trains for a certain amount of the days that you bought freely

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, I know that was surprising, so with the Suica card that you buy in Tokyo and you use it on the metro system, then you’re able to use the same card in other metros like in Osaka and even take training in Kyoto that are not part of the JR system.

Richard Cavalleri
So, with one single card you can travel almost everywhere in Japan.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, Suica is very handy. You can buy it with the card. You can buy the card and charge it in the station or there’s an app that you can download before coming to Japan. And Suica card also, you can use those in most of the convenience stores and vending machines.

Richard Cavalleri
Yeah, that’s right.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, yeah, that’s a great tip. JR Pass and Suica card. Yes, that’s a that’s a very good tip. Anything else that you recommend to bring or you know be to prepare or what to expect?

Richard Cavalleri
I’m not much, I mean with these two things you’d be able to travel and then for the rest I just go with the flow and enjoy because you won’t get lost, people are helpful. Each time I was confronted with some difficulty whether in a convenience store or in a metro sometime my car got stuck without needing to ask anyone, people stopped by and offered to help.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah. Is that complete, That’s a completely different culture, I guess. In Japan, if you, you drop a wallet, people will pick it up and hand it over to you, or you’ll eventually the wallet, you’ll find the wallet.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Same as phone. This has happened to my friend who were visiting. She forgot her phone in taxi and 10 minutes later, taxi driver came with a phone in his hand.

Richard Cavalleri
So, yeah, this expense of safety and security in Japan, and that’s something I really appreciate because when you travel around, I don’t know, I was alone last year with expensive gear, camera, and you shoot at night, you don’t feel that safety in many places in the world.

Richard Cavalleri
So, it’s something that I really appreciated in Japan.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yes, yes, yes, yes, especially when you carry expensive stuff and, you know, heavy loads. Yeah, like what does your gear look like? Do you bring multiple cameras or…?

Richard Cavalleri
I always had two cameras with me and multiple objectives and a tripod so heavy gear.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Yeah, so yeah and yeah

Richard Cavalleri
, thank you for joining us and yeah hopefully we can meet in person when you come over in March. It would be a pleasure. Yes sure. Yes, I’ll be in touch. Okay great thank you.

Shunsuke Ochiai
Okay thank you for joining us. Thank you.