Last updated just now · Sep 1, 2026, 10:00 AM
Photography & Travel Japan

Issei

Full Creator Stats Live · Updated 2026-09-01

Issei is a Japan-based filmmaker and creative director whose personal brand spans film, travel, and lifestyle content.

NichePhotography & Travel TierMicro Engagement3.5%

Total Followers -0.0%

38K

Across Instagram

Primary Platform

YouTube

38K followers · 100% of audience

Engagement

3.5%

vs. 1.5% category median

Sponsorship Tier

Micro

Est. $939–$2.6K / IG post

Quick facts
  • 38K combined followers across 1 platform.
  • Micro creator tier — Japan.
  • 3.5% headline engagement.
  • Active since .
  • Niche: All.
  • Posts in English.

Performance Across Platforms

Updated 2026-09-01
PlatformFollowers30d GrowthEngagementPosts / wkLast upload
Instagram 37,564 -15 3.5% 8 months ago

Growth Trend

Last 365 days
WindowInstagramCombined
Last 7 days +0 +0.0% +0 +0.0% +0 +0.0% +0
Last 30 days -15 -0.0% +0 +0.0% +0 +0.0% -15
Last 90 days -890 -2.4% +0 +0.0% +0 +0.0% -890
Last 365 days -890 -2.4% +0 +0.0% +0 +0.0% -890

Audience Demographics

Premium
Premium insight

See who's actually watching

Age, gender, country and language splits — for every creator in our index.

Start free trial

14-day free trial

37K38K38K39K39K Sep 2Nov 25Feb 17May 12Now
Click a platform to toggle · hover the dots for exact values

Daily follower snapshots from CreatorDB's longitudinal index.

Background

About Issei

Issei is a Japan-based filmmaker and creative director whose personal brand spans film, travel, and lifestyle content. Beyond solo output, he has built two institutional projects: Phosphr Studio, a creative production house, and Discover Tokyo, a channel dedicated to surfacing the Japanese capital's culture and aesthetics. His visual work draws on Sony camera systems and DJI drone hardware — specifically the Air 3S — with documented travels across Sri Lanka and Vietnam revealing a preference for cinematic landscape work over conventional travel vlogging. A secondary account under the handle @urtmrw suggests an additional, likely more experimental creative outlet. Despite a micro-tier following, his engagement rate runs well above the category median.

Issei's audience skews heavily English-speaking and male, concentrated in the 25–34 bracket — an atypical demographic for a Japan-based creator that suggests his work resonates internationally as visual craft rather than local lifestyle content. Recent posts show active experimentation with AI video tools such as Higgsfield and Klingai, positioning him at the intersection of traditional cinematography and generative media production. Ties to Tokyo's art and streetwear community, evidenced by pop-up collaborations with local creative collectives, add cultural credibility. With public posting activity having stalled through mid-2026, his trajectory as a brand partner in camera hardware, travel, or emerging creative technology depends on whether studio-side work translates back into consistent content output.

Brand fit

Why brands partner

Issei reaches an audience concentrated in Japan primarily through YouTube, and is best activated via Instagram Reels and Stories. As a travel creator they map naturally to brands targeting that space. With no brand deals logged yet, they read as an available, category-aligned partner for advertisers building early presence in the space. Engagement on YouTube runs around 3.5%, which points to an audience better suited to category-relevant, mid-funnel campaigns than to pure-reach buys. Their YouTube-first format lends itself to integrations that sit inside the creator's usual content rather than running as standalone ads. Because the audience follows travel content rather than arriving through untargeted reach, sponsorships that match the channel's subject matter tend to convert more efficiently than broad placements. A consistent, on-topic posting focus gives sponsors a predictable, brand-safe environment, lowering placement risk compared with broad, general-interest channels. Campaigns here are best measured on qualified engagement and consideration within the niche rather than on raw impression volume. For Japan-focused brands in travel and related categories, Issei offers a defined, creative-fit audience rather than broad, low-intent impressions.

Estimated Rate Card

Benchmark estimates for a creator at Issei's tier (Micro, 38K combined followers, Japan). Pulled from CreatorDB's category benchmarks.

Premium insight

See what they actually charge

Benchmark rates per post, Reel, video and integration — across every platform.

Start free trial

14-day free trial

Top Recent Content click to view

Last 60 days · tap a row to play

Want to Work With Creators Like Issei?

The CreatorDB Agency runs end-to-end influencer campaigns globally — shortlisting, outreach, contracting, and performance reporting. Talk to our team about building a campaign around creators in this niche.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Phosphr Studio and did Issei start it?

Yes — Issei is the founder of Phosphr Studio, a creative studio rooted in filmmaking and visual direction. It appears to function as the commercial and collaborative arm of his broader work in cinematic content, brand storytelling, and creative direction.

What is Discover Tokyo and what does Issei do for it?

Issei serves as Executive Director of @discovertokyo, an Instagram-based platform dedicated to showcasing life and culture in Tokyo. His role puts him at the helm of the account's creative vision, drawing directly on his background in film and creative direction.

Does Issei shoot with Sony cameras?

Yes, Issei shoots with Sony cameras and has referenced the camaraderie between Sony shooters in his captions — including a moment of meeting a fellow Sony user while out traveling. Sony mirrorless systems are a common choice among independent travel filmmakers for their versatility and image quality.

What drone does Issei use for his travel footage?

Issei uses the DJI Air 3S for aerial work, which he has tagged directly in his content. It is a compact but capable drone well suited to a filmmaker moving between destinations like Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Does Issei use AI video tools like Kling AI or Higgsfield in his work?

Yes — Issei has experimented with both Higgsfield and Kling AI in his creative projects, including AI-driven transitions and visual experiments involving flames. This suggests he is actively exploring how generative AI tools can be layered into traditional cinematic production.

What is Issei's second Instagram account @urtmrw?

Issei lists @urtmrw as a secondary account directly in his Instagram bio. The name reads as a shorthand phrase, and it likely functions as a more personal or experimental creative outlet separate from his main film, travel, and studio content.

Where has Issei traveled to for his filmmaking?

Documented destinations in Issei's content include Sri Lanka and Vietnam, both of which feature prominently in his hashtags and captions. His Sri Lanka footage appears to include encounters with toque macaques, a monkey species native to the island, pointing to immersive on-the-ground shooting.

What was the AMNJX pop-up store at Untorn Tokyo that Issei posted about?

Issei posted about an AMNJX pop-up store held at Untorn Tokyo, tagging the creators behind the brand. His involvement points to ties within Tokyo's independent creative and streetwear scene that extend well beyond his work as a filmmaker and travel content creator.

Is Issei a Japanese creator or is he based somewhere else?

Issei is based in Japan, though his content is produced in English and draws a heavily international audience. His work bridges Japanese visual culture and a globally minded creative aesthetic, which likely explains why the majority of his following comes from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Is Issei still posting on Instagram in 2026?

As of mid-2026, Issei had not posted on Instagram for roughly eight months, indicating a significant pause in his public output. Despite the inactivity, his engagement rate sits well above the category average, suggesting his existing audience remains genuinely invested in his work.

How this page is built

Stats (followers, engagement, audience demographics, growth) are pulled live from the CreatorDB API covering YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Bio and FAQ content is AI-assisted; news items are sourced from cited public press at generation time. Read the full methodology →

Data refreshed Sep 1, 2026, 10:00 AM · Slug: issei

Are you Issei?

If you'd like to update, correct, or remove this profile, get in touch and we'll handle it within 5 business days. We don't publish private data — every stat shown comes from your public platform profiles.

Email hello@creatordb.app →