Since picking up a YDA award back in 2006 for his Raindance Film Festival ident, Japanese director Kosai Sekine’s career has gone international. He’s worked for brands like UNIQLO and Fuji – all with his quirky, off-kilter perspective – and his tale of urban love and hate Adidas Break UP Service won him a silver Lion at the2009 Cannes Advertising Award. We catch up with Kosai to talk awards, inspiration and looking at Tokyo through foreign eyes.

What inspires you?
Most of my inspiration comes from CULTURES. To see the difference of point of views around the world is most exciting for me. So I love to travel always… I think lots of directors would agree with this.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning?
Washing my face. Try to forget nightmare and refresh!

Who is your hero and why?
Eiko Ishioka. Her design always stimulates me to create my own stuff instead of recreating someone else’s idea. Sticking to something original is always exhausting but it’s important… it’s like a director’s destiny, I think.

What do you think are the biggest influences on your directing style?
Films and music video by foreign directors but shot in Tokyo have been very influential, because they look at Tokyo through different eyes. The city looked way more exciting than we imagined. In that way, I started to think that I should be able shoot my city better than stranger directors… then it became the start of my career.

What advice would you give to anyone hoping to become a director?
There is no particular way to be a director. Just do everything that you can think of to help you to be a director.

What have you learned from spending some time in the advertising/production industry?
Actually because I haven’t had any specialized training about film at school, I think I learned everything after I started working. And it works!

What’s the one thing that has made your life easier?
Because I gave full of effort to my first film and it was successful, that one became my name card. And winning award is what we should not ignore because it actually gave you a big difference.

If you weren’t a director, what do you think you’d be doing?
Non selling musician or writer.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
I was born as a pessimist but after I started this job I became an optimist because I have no time to look back to the past!

What makes you angry?
Interestingly I don’t get to angry when it comes to big things but I get angry with tiny tiny stuff, like when I am late for the train or getting traffic jam or troubled by non-connecting Internet… such a small person I am!

Where is your favourite place to be when you are working on ideas?
When I have nothing else to do without working it make me concentrated. For example, when I’m flying I always can work smoothly.

Since winning the YDA in 2006, how has your career evolved?
It was a big change of course because it’s high profile and it’s an international award. I started to work more internationally, and it was the opportunity to get great representation. But being confident about my own vision is most important for me!

What is your favourite film that you have shot?
My first film, RIGHT PLACE and a recent film, Split Up Service by Adidas Originals.
Both are short films have eccentric scenarios… which are my style!