Actor Kyoya Honda, who gained attention for his role as "Takimasa-sama" in the April 2025 drama series "A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You" (Fuji TV), will release his second photo book, "ECHOES" (Gentosha), on January 31, 2026. At Honda's request, the photo book was shot in Los Angeles, a place he has always dreamed of, and we spoke to him about the thoughts behind the book, which he says "allowed him to take a fresh look at himself."
"ECHOES" is Honda's second photo book, following "Hibiki" which was released in 2023. Driven by the desire to "know where I am now and look to the future," the photos were taken in Los Angeles, a place Honda had "always dreamed of," with the theme of "traveling alone at 26 years old."
Honda said that she had carefully tried on her costume beforehand.
"I decided beforehand during the costume fitting, 'I want to wear this kind of thing in this place,' and then when I was there, I wore the outfit I'd chosen and filmed it. I also wanted to appear as close to my natural self as possible, so there are shots where I'm wearing my own leather shoes, which makes the styling more similar to my everyday clothes."
The photo book contains many natural photographs that resemble a documentary film.
"This time, I was photographed at a lot of unexpected moments. I think I was able to capture a lot of unexpected moments, with expressions that are different from my usual magazine shoots and other work."
One of the filming locations is Venice Beach, which Honda said he had "always wanted to go to." Filming took place at two different times of the day, during the day and at sunset, and Honda reflected, "The time I spent at Venice Beach is definitely the most memorable."
"When we were shooting at sunset, the horizon was so wide and beautiful, and when I saw the orange light of the setting sun sinking into it, it was a moment when I felt like I was able to reaffirm where I was at the time. That experience has stayed with me deeply, and the cover shot was also taken at that time."
The photos featured were personally selected by Honda from a huge collection of photos. Some fans are already looking forward to visiting the holy sites.
"There are photos with the filming locations and photos without, and I think it would be good if you could stay there for about a month and finally realize, 'That's it!' Some places are difficult to find, so if you find a place that is the same as the one in the photo, please let me know (laughs)."
The title of the photobook is the plural of the word "echo," which means "resonance" or "echo." The title expresses the artist's desire for the photobook to "resonate more widely and loudly" and "resonate more around the world" than his first photobook, "Hibiki."
Once again, Honda, who has fulfilled his wish to "find out where he is now and look to the future" in Los Angeles, the "place of his dreams," shared his current state of mind.
"I think I was able to take a fresh look at myself, which was the intention behind making this photo book. I was able to capture in photographs what kind of person I am now at 26, what I'm thinking, and how I want to live my life from here on out, and I was able to leave that moment in a tangible form, so I think this is a book that will serve as a catalyst for taking that first step, or rather a new start."
