Hiroshi Urata
(He/Him)
Japan, Kanagawa
As seen in:
nii.ac.jp
Covers:
I interview Niwashi (gardeners), blacksmiths & diverse artisans (traditional/modern). I also cover biophilic design & green infrastructure via corporate interviews. What I value most is the people.
Doesn't Cover:
I do not cover superficial, mass-market PR or pitches that lack a clear narrative or connection to my core themes of landscaping and craftspeople.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
While still a university student in 1999, I was dispatched by a magazine to the US to cover Woodstock '99 simply for a "student's perspective." Experiencing that chaotic, historic festival on the ground was my raw baptism into reporting. It also immediately became my very first experience of seeing my draft buried under a mountain of red ink and "delete" marks.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, but only as a toy when I was a kid. My parents owned one, and I remember getting scolded for messing around with it.
How is social media changing news?
In its early days, social media didn't really change the news; it was just a tool for communication and entertainment. What truly changed everything was the smartphone camera. Suddenly, anyone could capture what was right in front of them, allowing social media to reach the scene faster than traditional media ever could. And now, we are entering an era driven by AI.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't have one in fiction. But I've always admired the presence and grit of real-life journalists from the era of film cameras.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Just delivering the reality of the ground to people who want to know.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#ドヤ顔 (which translates to "smug face"). It’s a Japanese hashtag where pet owners post photos of their animals looking inexplicably proud and majestic for absolutely no reason.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Please reach out via email or message first.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MacBook Pro, Microsoft 365, and various AI tools.
What's your favorite social network?
I'm the type who signs up for whatever platform is currently trending, only to abandon it before gaining any followers.
Who do you wish followed you?
Anyone who is ready to take action alongside them to sustain the Japanese culture cultivated by Niwashi (gardeners) and blacksmiths.
Why did you become a journalist?
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Initially, I wanted to turn a year of my travels into literature, not just a travelogue. Somewhere along the way, I ended up being rigorously trained in advertising copywriting, which proved incredibly useful after going freelance. I wrote across countless genres, but what ultimately remained with me were gardens and blacksmiths. I’ve just been going with the flow—like a fallen leaf drifting on the surface of a river.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, back in high school, I was just drifting along and killing time day by day.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My serialization on the legendary landscape architect Toemon Sano for the magazine Niwa. We visited sites together, I listened to his stories about the gardens, we shared meals, and we even drank together at night while chatting about the past and present. It wasn't just an interview about his work; I was given the rare privilege of connecting with his life itself.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Stick with your subject for the long haul. You will love it at times, and hate it at others. But that cycle is exactly how you cultivate a true eye for reality.
When's the best time to pitch you?
At the very start if you want to build the idea together; after it’s finalized if you just want me to maximize my given mission.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Any pitch that comes directly from a passionate craftsman on the ground.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A low-pay offer from an obscure media outlet claiming it would be "great exposure."
What's your favorite drink?
Local drinks—both alcohol and juice—from the places I visit for my stories.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At Zaimokuza Beach, a local shore just a five-minute walk from my place.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
As a columnist for NIWA (a magazine for landscape professionals), I am naturally drawn to other niche trade publications like Monthly Waste Management, Monthly Chief Buddhist Priest, and Monthly Electric Wires. Every specialized profession is endlessly fascinating.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
When people think of Japanese landscaping, they often picture traditional grand gardens with red bridges and stone lanterns. In reality, artisans also design beautiful spaces for private homes and small storefronts on limited plots. There is so much more to a Japanese garden than just those classic features.
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