The journey for these three friends began in Nepal’s Langtang Valley, a place often called the most beautiful valley in the world. TV director Ryohei Kamide, photographer Yusuke Abe, and actor Taiga Nakano formed the travel circle Midnight Pizza Club, which has since evolved from a travelogue into a multifaceted project. Reaching audiences through Audible series and various exhibitions, it continues to capture the public's imagination. Now, they are marking the "First Final Stop" of their journey with an exhibition and pop-up shop at Shibuya PARCO. Why are people so captivated by their travels? What does "travel" actually mean to them? We sat down with the trio to discuss the project’s history, the stories behind the scenes, and their vision for this latest exhibition.
- Photo
- Asami Minami
- Text
- Risako Hayashi
- Edit
- RCKT/Rocket Company*
── So you’re saying you’ve been drawing on Mr. Nakano’s perspective because he isn’t a professional photographer?
Abe: Right. When you're a pro, you can’t help but know all the "must-have shots" needed to put a book together. But a completely fresh eye is sometimes just far more interesting. It even changed the way I take photos for work; now, I only "shoot what I want to shoot."
── Mr. Kamide, has this trip changed the way you approach your day job?
Kamide: I really had a lot of freedom with the writing this time around. Even though I’m writing about real people, it’s rare to have a relationship where you feel like you can get away with a bit of fiction. I feel like travel books lately are either super light essays or hardcore journals; they all seem to lean toward extremes. There haven't been many travelogues like Midnight Express that actually mix in some humor.
I knew that with the three of us, we could pull off that kind of genre. Seeing how much people enjoyed the result gave me the reassurance that "this style works."
I also decided that I’m never giving up the writing or editing rights. If you don't control the final product yourself, there's no telling what might happen to it.
Nakano: It’s actually pretty nerve-wracking. Since it’s all private time, you have no filter. Ryohei’s voice recorder is running the whole time, but after 10 days together, you just stop noticing it and start saying way too much.
But Yusuke, haven't you and I been a little quieter since the book came out? (laughs).
Abe: Definitely (laughs). The second I'm about to say something, I catch myself thinking, "Oh, he's going to write this down." Ryohei always picks on me for my habit of saying "actually," so I've been practicing different ways to say it in both Japanese and English.
Kamide: So I really did put a curse on you. Well, I think that adds some nice character. Though, you’re both still saying plenty of things you shouldn't.
── I’d also like to ask about the exhibition at Shibuya PARCO. How did the show at GALLERY X and the pop-up collaboration with magma come about?
Abe: The idea actually started with wanting to make "membership cards." We were thinking of those mountain guesthouses where passport photos are just plastered all over the walls.
Kamide: I was the one who suggested making them look like licenses. It all stems from an exhibition we did at a gallery in Yamanashi called GASBON METABOLISM, where we were introduced to the team from PARCO.
Nakano: We wanted to do something out of the ordinary. At GASBON, we went with the title "PIZZABON" and focused on showing our three individual perspectives. But for this show, we really wanted to switch gears. After touring the exhibition through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Fukuoka, we felt that just doing a repeat at PARCO wouldn’t cut it.
Kamide: We decided to make this the grand finale for our first book. Handing out MPC "membership cards" to everyone who enjoyed the project seemed like a fun way to do that, so that’s the plan for GALLERY X.
Then, at DAIROKKAN, we’re opening a "souvenir shop." We've always loved hitting the gift shops at the end of a trip, so we wanted to create a final stop for the readers who’ve been on this MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB journey with us.
"Something like this could work," Yusuke says. During our visit to NONLECTURE books/arts, a new book and art space that opened this March in the basement of Shibuya PARCO ZEROGATE, he was looking through various art books to gather some ideas.
── I’m also looking forward to the collaboration with magma.
Kamide: This was a total passion project for me. I’m a huge fan of theirs. When I saw they’d made pizza keychains a while back, I took it as a sign and reached out to them.
Nakano: They’ve really gone all out on this collaboration with everything from sculptures and keychains to T-shirts. We also asked them to design the venue, so it’s going to be a three-dimensional space that’s nothing like the typical "quietly look at photos" kind of exhibition.
Abe: To be honest, I’ve been getting a bit bored with shows where you just line up photos (laughs). I wanted someone like magma to come in and break that up—to not treat the photos as these precious, sacred objects.
Kamide: There are moments where we just don't want to be "handled with care."
Abe: I think I’ve just grown to love the way Ryohei always goes for the laugh, and that made me feel like I didn’t want to show the photos exactly as they are.
In the main space of NONLECTURE books/arts, a pop-up shop for SOONER OR LATER Import Culture Posters is running until Sunday, May 10th. 
In the back of the main space is the Goldwin Room, featuring an eye-catching burgundy floor. The space features a selection of photo books, essays, and practical guides on nature, materials, the body, and philosophy, reflecting the brand’s core values. It is currently hosting an exhibition by photographer Tetsuo Kashiwada, and MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB 1st BLAZE LANGTANG VALLEY is also on display.
── Do you have any particular hopes for exhibiting here at Shibuya PARCO, which is such a cultural hub?
Nakano: I’d love for this to be a chance for people who don’t usually know us to see our work. I think it’s something to be proud of, being able to launch a project this silly, yet made with total seriousness, right in the heart of Shibuya.
── Finally, do you have a message for the readers and everyone who is about to become a "member"?
Abe: I hope this project inspires someone else to head out on a trip. It’s also fun to see people who come to the show hitting it off and becoming friends.
Kamide: It makes me really happy that so many people read the book and actually traveled the same route. Travel is truly wonderful. I wish more people would do it. I even think travel could save the world.
If everyone traveled, wars would end. Knowing that there are all kinds of people out there in worlds you don’t know, that’s the most beautiful thing of all.
Nakano: Through this project, I’ve learned the joy of doing work that isn’t acting. Seeing a trip with friends take shape and reach an audience... this project itself feels like one journey in my own life. There are all kinds of ways to travel, so I’d be happiest if this book or show sparks a new journey for someone else.
MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB
A travel club formed by TV director Ryohei Kamide, photographer Yusuke Abe, and actor Taiga Nakano. Commonly known as "MPC." In December 2024, they released MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB 1st BLAZE LANGTANG VALLEY (Kodansha), a book documenting a journey through Nepal taken by the three of them. It has since made an impact on travel lovers and those who embrace the spirit of travel. Their podcast, "MIDNIGHT PIZZA CLUB," which captures the immersive atmosphere of their travels, is available on Audible. They are currently touring the country with photo exhibitions and original merchandise for sale.
