Photographer

The international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) is seeking a dynamic photographer for its Tokyo bureau.

The selected candidate will work in a fast-paced environment alongside text and video colleagues in AFP’s Tokyo bureau to produce compelling, varied and accurate coverage to tell the news in Japan to a global audience.

Photo coverage in Japan is highly visual and wide-ranging, spanning everything from breaking news and politics, sports and economics to earthquakes, festivals and strong human-interest scenes in a densely populated, media-savvy environment.

The chosen applicant will also conduct research, plan coverage and generate and execute original story ideas including photo essays, all in close supervision of the Japan Chief Photographer and co-ordination with the Tokyo bureau and the regional photo editing desks in the Asia-Pacific region.

The photographer must be comfortable shooting live events and transmitting photos directly from the camera, enabling editors on the desk to handle the photo production on the spot. She/he should stay current with the latest camera technology, workflow tools and industry developments to ensure fast, reliable and high-quality news coverage.

The selected candidate will respect the agency’s editorial policy and other guidelines, including those on the use of social media. She/he should be familiar with the issues involved in handling user-generated content (UGC), third-party content and AFP’s guidelines concerning their use. Online training is available here for learning about various methods of online verification, now indispensable for all journalism.

The chosen applicant may also be asked to cover events outside of Japan if the news requires, mainly in Asia-Pacific but potentially outside of the region as well. The job requires flexibility in working hours. The selected candidate will be called on to work evenings, weekends and public holidays when necessary.

In an ever-changing media environment, the nature of the job could evolve in line with coverage demands and the requirements of an increasingly diverse client base.

• Excellent shooting and editing skills and the ability to craft unique and creative visual storytelling ideas about Japan that appeal internationally

• Keen interest in Japanese affairs and stories that will engage younger audiences

• Experience in wire agencies is not essential, but would be an advantage

• Work well under tight deadlines, while collaborating effectively with colleagues in the bureau

• Interest in social media and active on social networking platforms, especially in breaking news situations when obtaining user-generated content is key

• Fluent English is required and the selected candidate will be expected to have some Japanese proficiency/learn the language; French or other languages would be an advantage

• Ability to operate a drone (a Japanese license would be appreciated)

Please send a CV, Cover Letter & Portfolio by clicking on APPLY on or before November 8, 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps in the recruitment process.

AFP is committed to equal opportunities and greater diversity within its teams. We therefore encourage all applications in order to preserve the wealth of profiles, cultures and languages that constitute the strength of our network.