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Good ideas are
only the beginning.

Creative direction and production across music, content, campaigns, and live experiences.

Los Angeles · Available across the U.S. and worldwide

One creative partner. Every way your idea meets an audience.

I take ideas from concept to execution. That can mean developing the creative, directing the shoot, producing the project, building the team, solving problems on the ground, or all of the above.

The medium changes. The job doesn't: Let's make something worth remembering.

Services

Strategy

I find the idea, shape the approach and build the plan around the audience.

  • Creative strategy
  • Creative direction
  • Campaign concepts
  • Social media strategy
  • Viral content strategy
  • Audience and platform thinking
  • Content planning
  • Experience development

Content

From the first treatment through final delivery, I lead productions built to communicate clearly and move with purpose.

  • Directing
  • Producing
  • Full-service video production
  • Music videos
  • Branded content
  • Commercial video
  • Documentary content
  • Social-first content
  • Creative development
  • Post-production oversight

Live

I develop the creative and entertainment layer of live experiences, working alongside event producers and production teams to bring the audience-facing experience to life.

  • Entertainment production
  • Live creative direction
  • Talent sourcing & coordination
  • Show & performance development
  • Show flow
  • Rehearsals
  • Live music & performance
  • Immersive entertainment
  • Branded experiences
  • Private experiences
  • Event content

Selected work

D Smoke holding a Super Bowl LXI flag overlooking Los Angeles
Branded Content

Super Bowl LXI Logo Reveal

NFL × D Smoke: Produced and Directed by Yoshi Tabata

A Super Bowl logo reveal rooted in Inglewood, culture and place.

Still from the RapvilleUK x D Smoke shoot, a couple facing each other at a gas station location
Music Content · Viral Content Strategy

RapvilleUK × D Smoke

Produced by Yoshi Tabata

A selected project with RapvilleUK and D Smoke.

Still from the RapvilleUK x Hit-Boy shoot, prop cash on the seat of a vehicle
Music Content · Viral Content Strategy

RapvilleUK × Hit-Boy

Produced by Yoshi Tabata

A selected project with RapvilleUK and Hit-Boy.

Still from the D Smoke featuring Lucky Daye music video, Frequency
Music Video

"Frequency"

D Smoke feat. Lucky Daye: Directed and Produced by Yoshi Tabata

A music video for D Smoke featuring Lucky Daye.

Still from the D Smoke featuring LaRussell music video, Na Na Na
Music Video

"Na Na Na"

D Smoke feat. LaRussell: Produced and Creatively Directed by Yoshi Tabata

A music video for D Smoke featuring LaRussell.

Still from the D Smoke x Mike & Keys music video, No Passes
Music Video

"No Passes"

D Smoke x Mike & Keys: Produced by Yoshi Tabata

A music video for D Smoke and Mike & Keys.

Still from the Alexia Jay music video, Rent Free
Music Video

"Rent Free"

Alexia Jay: Directed and Produced by Yoshi Tabata

A music video for Alexia Jay, the first Black female winner of NBC's The Voice.

Still from the Bleachers to Stages documentary about Cody Ray
Documentary

Bleachers to Stages

Cody Ray: Directed by Yoshi Tabata

A documentary about artist Cody Ray, who appeared on Season 2 of Netflix's Rhythm + Flow.

Official cover art for STA.B.N's Mujeres single
Music Video

Mujeres

STA.B.N, D Smoke & Drezz: Direction and Full-Service Production

A music video for STA.B.N, D Smoke and Drezz.

Table setting and branded signage for the Club Nana immersive live experience, est. 1936
Live Experience

Club Nana

Entertainment Production by Yoshi Tabata (event production led by another team)

A 1930s speakeasy world brought to life through live music, dancers and immersive performance.

Yoshi Tabata directing on set, framing a shot with his hands beside a camera operator

About

Built on visual language.

I'm a Los Angeles-based director, producer and creative director.

I bring that same range of strategy, content and live experience to every project I lead.

Concept. Direction. Execution.

My work moves between music, culture, branded storytelling and live entertainment, with the same goal every time.

Featured in VoyageLA Meet Yoshi Tabata of Los Angeles Read the interview ↗

Process

01

Find the idea

Clarify the audience, objective and central creative idea.

02

Build the approach

Develop the concept, treatment, content plan or live-experience direction.

03

Make the work

Direct, produce and collaborate with the right creative and production partners.

04

Bring it to people

Deliver the work through screens, social platforms or live environments.

Contact

Let's make the part people remember.

Tell us what you're building, who it needs to reach and where you need help.

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Please select a project type.

Tell us a little about the project.

Instagram

@youknowyoshi

Based in

Los Angeles · Available across the U.S. and worldwide