Yuki Rikui — Profile (21 years old)
A fourth-year university student based in Kobe, Yuki has loved cars since childhood. By the time he was in his third year of junior high school, he was photographing the sports cars and supercars he spotted around town. His striking photos bring out the best in every car and have attracted attention—and commissions from owners not only in Kansai but also in Tokyo.
Now a popular automotive photographer, he is increasingly in demand from companies as well as private owners. His Instagram following has surpassed 7,500.
＊Twitter: @V12_SCL
＊Instagram: @V12_scl
＊For photography inquiries, email: kugatti.photo@gmail.com

1) Photographing the Cars He Loves

A Glimpse into Yuki Rikui’s Everyday Life

What does a typical day look like for you?

On weekdays, I lead a pretty ordinary student life: going to classes and working part-time. Of course, if a photography request comes in, I’ll rearrange my plans and head out to shoot—even on a weekday.

On weekends, I sometimes photograph cars in front of Kobe Daimaru. And most Sunday mornings, I head to the Royu Driveway to take pictures of cars belonging to owners I know, as well as those driven by visitors at the lookout.

These days I get more commissioned work, but it all started with what you might call car spotting: I’d find a car around town, ask its owner, “Would it be all right if I took some photos?” and then take pictures.

Every car has a different design. Isn’t it difficult to photograph each one beautifully?

Yes… The same car can have a completely different feel depending on how you photograph it. My approach is usually to take pictures from a range of angles and choose the best ones later.

If it’s a rare car I don’t often get to see, I’ll take a lot of pictures. Otherwise, I usually take around 10.

How much time do you spend editing your photos?

Some photos take just five minutes to edit, while others somehow end up taking about an hour. I work intuitively, so once I start second-guessing myself, the results usually aren’t as good. I just get more and more bogged down…

So when it comes to editing, I focus on trusting my instincts rather than spending a certain amount of time on it.

Why did you choose the name “KUGATTI”?

When I was in junior high school, people at my cram school called me “Kugacchi.” Written in Roman letters, it also looked a bit like “BUGATTI,” so I thought, why not make it sound like a carmaker? (laughs)

My memory’s a little hazy, but before KUGATTI, I think I used names like “KUGANI.” Then it became “Y.KUGATTI,” and eventually I simplified it to “KUGATTI.”

As for my Twitter and Instagram handle, “V12_SCL,” the V12 part is because I liked V12-powered cars. My original Twitter handle was @SuperCarsLOVE, so I took the first letters of those words to make “SCL.”

I also liked the way “V12_SCL” looked because I’d seen similar combinations on British license plates. (laughs)

You live in Kobe but even travel to Tokyo for photo shoots?

That’s right. An owner I knew once asked me, “Could you come to Tokyo tonight to photograph my car?” I took the night off from my part-time job and went.

I always try to seize an opportunity as soon as it comes along, so I replied “I’m on my way!” without hesitating.

If I’d paused and the opportunity had slipped away, I know I’d have regretted it. So I live by the rule that cars come first, no matter what.

I really, really love cars. (laughs)

It’s amazing that you’ve built lasting relationships with the owners you meet.

I’m really grateful for that. I get to photograph the cars I love, edit the pictures the way I envision them, ask for the owner’s contact information so I can send them the photos, and then post them on Instagram…

I’m not doing anything particularly special, but it makes me so happy when people enjoy the results. One owner I’ve gotten to know told me:

“Kugacchi’s photos have real value. I think he’s one of the few people in Japan who can take pictures that make a car truly shine.”

I was really happy to hear that. At the same time, it made me think, “I can’t be satisfied with this—I have to keep working even harder!”

What Goes into Photographing Cars

What do you think makes your photos so special?

Honestly, I’m not sure—I just take pictures because I love it. (laughs) But I love cars from the bottom of my heart, and I have so much fun photographing them. I think that passion comes through in my pictures.

I started taking car photos when I was in my third year of junior high school, but I certainly wasn’t good from the start. At first, I was simply recording cool cars, so I just took pictures with my phone.

(One of Yuki’s very first photos, taken when he was in his third year of junior high school)

Eventually, though, I started thinking, “If I’m going to take a picture, I want to make sure the car looks great.”

I’ve bought two compact digital cameras over the years and shot with each until it wore out. After that, I borrowed a DSLR from a friend. Once I’d gotten used to using it, I took the plunge and bought one for myself. A year and a half later, I bought a new DSLR, which is the one I use now.

I’ve taken too many photos to count. At car events, I sometimes take 1,000 to 2,000 pictures in a single day, so I’ve probably shot hundreds of thousands—or even millions—by now. Who knows? It’s a lot. (laughs)

After seven years and a huge number of shots, I may have gradually figured out how to make cars look their best. (↓ Here’s how much the quality of Yuki’s photos has improved over the years.)

Case 1 (↑ Then, ↓ Now)

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Case 2 (↑ Then, ↓ Now)

What drives you to take so many car photos?

I just love cars—that’s really all there is to it. (laughs) But more than wanting to take a great photo, I think what really drives me is wanting to see great cars.

When I’m standing in front of a beautiful car thinking, “Wow, that’s so cool!” it’s such a joy to capture it in a photo that shows just how good it looks.

Which do you enjoy more: taking photos or driving?

Hmm… that’s a tough one. They’re completely different things, so I can’t really compare them. But one day, I’d love to be able to do everything myself:

“Buy a car I love, drive it to one of my favorite photo spots, and take as many pictures of my own car as I like.”

That’s my dream. (laughs)

2) The Road to Becoming a Car Photographer

A Lifelong Love of Cars

Did you grow up loving cars because someone in your family was into them?

No—nobody in my family is a car enthusiast. (laughs) I think most boys are interested in cars and other vehicles when they’re little, and I was the same.

Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by trucks, trains, cars, and all kinds of vehicles. But I hardly ever got to see cool cars in person, and I didn’t know where I could go to find them.

Then I started playing racing games against my friends and discovered that there were all sorts of sports cars and supercars in the world. That only made me even more passionate about cars.

Eventually, I got the chance to see a supercar in person for the first time. It was in Kobe, and I think it was an orange Lamborghini Murciélago… It left an incredible impression.

The sound was completely different—and far more powerful—than it was in a video game. Seeing the car move right in front of me was thrilling. From then on, I was completely hooked on cars.

What do your parents think about your love of cars?

Hmm… I think they’re a little exasperated with me. (laughs) They used to tell me to “study,” but I’d do a bit of homework and then head straight out to photograph cars. They must have thought, “There’s no stopping this kid, no matter what we say.”

But the other day, I asked my parents what they thought about the hobby I’ve pursued, and they said, “It’s amazing how many people you can meet when you really devote yourself to something!” Maybe they’re starting to approve. (laughs)

Where did you go to photograph cars when you were in junior high school?

I often went to Midosuji in Osaka to take pictures. It used to be a well-known spot where supercars would park, and I took a lot of photos there. These days, though, the police enforce the rules more strictly, so you hardly see supercars there anymore.

I was basically car spotting, but even back then, I didn’t feel right about photographing cars without the owner’s permission or posting pictures on social media without obscuring license plates and people’s faces.

If I’m going to photograph someone’s prized car, I want to follow basic etiquette: ask the owner first and blur license plates and faces before posting photos on social media. That’s always been important to me.

Creating His Own Opportunities

When did people start asking you to photograph their cars?

It’s only happened fairly recently—about two years ago. The first time I received a serious request was from a car tuning shop in Osaka. They asked me to take photos for an online used-car listing.

I’d been visiting the shop for about three years because it carried parts from a custom-car brand I liked. While I was there, I’d take photos of the cars and send them to the shop later.

I was only doing it because I enjoyed it, but after I’d visited a few times, they started hiring me officially. I kept at it, little by little, and gradually more opportunities came my way. That’s how I got to where I am today.

Is there a difference between taking photos as a hobby and shooting on commission?

Yes… When I’m working on a commissioned shoot, I make sure to get certain essential shots and focus on capturing those first.

When I was taking photos purely because I loved it, I’d get so excited that I didn’t think much about what I was shooting. Looking back, I’d often wonder, “Why did I take this picture?” or “Why didn’t I shoot it from that angle instead?”

That’s not an option when someone has hired me, so I make a point of getting all the shots I need.

Is there an angle you always shoot, no matter what the car is?

There’s one angle I always shoot: the front three-quarter view. It shows off the front of the car as well as the lines along the side, and it feels like a natural perspective—the kind you’re most likely to see when a car is out on the street.

(The photo above was taken during a group photography trip to London.)

I always shoot the rear three-quarter view, too. And since I upgraded to a camera with a better lens, I’ve been able to take even sharper pictures.

What’s it like to meet successful luxury-car owners while you’re still young?

It’s interesting. I don’t know if I’ll be successful in the same way, but there’s a lot you can learn from people who have done well in life.

That said, we all connect over our shared love of cars, so we usually just talk about cars. Even though I’ve met some of them many times, I don’t actually know things like what they do for a living. (laughs)

Do you get nervous asking people like that if you can photograph their cars?

I was nervous at first. Three years ago, I met someone on the Royu Driveway who I still see there almost every week. I’d first learned about him through Instagram.

I asked someone he was friends with, “Could you introduce me to him the next time we’re at Royu?” They did, and we met soon after.

The first time I saw him, he had an incredible aura about him… He seemed like no ordinary person, with a presence that kept people at a distance. I was pretty intimidated. (laughs)

But when I actually spoke with him, he was very friendly and approachable. I later asked if I could photograph his car again, and now I sometimes visit his home to take pictures. On occasion, he’s even let me drive some of his rare cars.

You really take the initiative and make the most of opportunities!

Yes… I suppose I do take the initiative. I think taking action is incredibly important.

For example, I first connected with the owner who later asked me to come to Tokyo that night to take photos when I happened to be in Tokyo. I sent him an Instagram DM saying, “I’m in Tokyo right now. If you’re free, would it be all right if I took some pictures of your car?”

It took a lot of courage, and I was really nervous when I sent that first DM. But he said, “Sure!” and that’s how our connection—and many others—began.

Of course, some people don’t want their cars photographed. But after meeting lots of people, I’ve gradually developed a feel for who might be open to it and who might not.

Next page → The amazing cars he saw on a London photography trip, and the car he hopes to own one day