TAKAHIRO SHIRAISHI 白石剛浩
Multiple Award-Winning Creative Director / Director, Film & Advertising | Tokyo, Japan
PROFILE
Award-winning creative director and film director based in Tokyo, with two decades of experience across TVCM, digital film, social activation, and music video. Career built on full-spectrum craft, script writing, advertising planning, directing, shooting, and editing, culminating in complete creative ownership of internationally recognized brand campaigns. Trusted by global and Japan-market brands alike, with concept-to-delivery partnerships across Dentsu, Hakuhodo, and McCann, and direct-to-client engagements run without agency involvement. Recognized at Cannes Lions, ADFEST, shots Awards Asia Pacific and MTV Video Music Awards Japan (VMAJ).
CORE COMPETENCIES
Creative & Brand Direction: end-to-end campaign leadership, from concept through final delivery, for global and domestic brands
Copywriting & Concept Development: lead and contributing copywriter on award-winning agency campaigns
Film & TVC Direction: director and DP across commercial, documentary, and music video formats
Social & Digital Activation: talent-led social campaigns with measurable commercial impact
Agency & Client Partnership: direct collaboration with Dentsu, Hakuhodo, McCann, and direct-to-client production
EXPERIENCE
Creative Direction, Director & Production | Independent. 2025 – 2026
● Directing two full-length documentary films on Japanese ceramic and horticultural craft traditions
Freelance CM Planner | McCann, for Agoda 2025 – 2026
● Planning commercial campaign work for Agoda
Director / Freelance Planner | McCann, for Kewpie 2025
● Directed and creative-planned Kewpie’s “Can You KEWPIE IT?” social campaign
Freelance Copywriter / Scriptwriter / Planner / Director | McCann, for Nike Air Max x Atmos Japan 2024
● Owned copywriting, script writing, planning, and direction for the Nike Air Max x Atmos Japan social campaign
Social Activation Creative Direction & Production, Director | American Eagle 2022
● Led social activation creative planning, scripting, and production for the “Real Good” campaign featuring Ryo Nishikido and Jin Akanishi
● Delivered 841K total engagement and 12% increased social media followers; all featured products sold out
Creative Director / Director | Lenovo Japan, direct client (no agency) 2021
● Owned the entire creative process for short film “One Trick Pony”: concept, script, direction, and edit, working directly with the client
● Won Bronze in FILM CRAFT LOTUS at ADFEST 2021
Represented Director | Connection (cnct.work) 2019 – Present
● Entered representation with Connection for commercial and music video direction, continuing to work freelance alongside direct agency and client relationships
Freelance Writer / Director (Concept Team) | Dentsu Inc Tokyo, for Nissin Donbei 2016
● Contributed as copywriter and video director on the concept team for “10 Minutes Noodle,” a Nissin Donbei campaign
● Campaign won Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions
Film Production Staff 2004 – 2016
● On-set editor, 「20世紀少年」 (20th Century Boys)
● (Kazuaki Kiriya) Director’s Assistant, 「ごえもん」 (Goemon)
Director, Commercials & Music Video | Freelance, ongoing 2004 – Present
● Sustained 20-year freelance directing and creative planning/direction practice across commercial, digital, and music video formats for global and domestic brands
SELECTED CLIENTS & BRANDS
SONY PlayStation · Adidas Originals · Nike Air Max · Shiseido HAKU · Mercari · NEC Lenovo · Rohto · Hawaii Tourism Authority · BOTANIST · SUQQU · Vogue Japan · American Eagle · Agoda · Kewpie
SELECTED MUSIC VIDEO & TALENT DIRECTION
Ken Hirai · Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi · Kinki Kids · EXILE · Johnny’s Associates · LUNA SEA · BiSH · BRAHMAN · Hinatazaka46
HONORS & AWARDS
● Cannes Lions — Bronze Lion, “10 Minutes Noodle” (Nissin Donbei, Dentsu Inc Tokyo), director & writer, concept team — 2016
● ADFEST, FILM CRAFT LOTUS — Bronze, “One Trick Pony” (Lenovo Japan), creative direction — 2021
● MTV Video Music Awards Japan (VMAJ) — Best Choreography, Hinatazaka46 “Am I ready?” — 2023
● MTV Video Music Awards Japan (VMAJ) — Best Video of the Year, Hinatazaka46 “青春の馬” — 2020
● shots Awards Asia Pacific 2022 — New Director of the Year — for BRAHMAN “Slow Dance”
● shots Awards Asia Pacific 2022 — Music Video of the Year, BRAHMAN “Slow Dance” (director)
EDUCATION
Tokyo Visual Arts (formerly Tokyo College of Photography) — 2002 – 2004