Hi, I'm Junko Kajino. I'm a documentary editor and storyteller with a deep passion for shaping real-world stories through editing. My background spans producing, scriptwriting, and directing feature films, and I’m proficient in Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro. I also handle sound mixing, color grading, and full production work on set, including camera and sound. I’ve edited documentary series, reality TV, and interviews for projects such as the Chicago Sinfonietta Gala (2026), Center for Good Food Purchasing, and CGTN’s Life in Chicago South Side. For samples and more of my work, visit homesickblues.com.

Junko Kajino

Hi, I'm Junko Kajino. I'm a documentary editor and storyteller with a deep passion for shaping real-world stories through editing. My background spans producing, scriptwriting, and directing feature films, and I’m proficient in Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro. I also handle sound mixing, color grading, and full production work on set, including camera and sound. I’ve edited documentary series, reality TV, and interviews for projects such as the Chicago Sinfonietta Gala (2026), Center for Good Food Purchasing, and CGTN’s Life in Chicago South Side. For samples and more of my work, visit homesickblues.com.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Junko Kajino. I’m a documentary editor and storyteller with a deep passion for shaping real-world stories through editing. My background spans producing, scriptwriting, and directing feature films, and I’m proficient in Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro. I also handle sound mixing, color grading, and full production work on set, including camera and sound.

I’ve edited documentary series, reality TV, and interviews for projects such as the Chicago Sinfonietta Gala (2026), Center for Good Food Purchasing, and CGTN’s Life in Chicago South Side. For samples and more of my work, visit homesickblues.com.

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Language

Japanese
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Editor/Director/Producer at https://www.homesickblues.com/
January 20, 2000 - Present
Editor at Chicago Sinfonietta Gala
January 1, 2026 - Present
Editing for the Chicago Sinfonietta Gala 2026 project.
Camera and Sound Recordist at Future
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Camera and sound recording for a short documentary series.
2nd Camera and Sound Recordist at Vlad TV
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Second camera and sound for Vlad TV productions.
2nd Camera and Sound Recordist at Northwestern University Alumni Association
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Second camera and sound recordist for Northwestern University Alumni Association project.
Production Coordinator at College Board
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Production coordination for College Board projects, including camera work.
Media Coordinator at BS Commercial
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Media coordination for BS Commercial.
Media Coordinator at Asahi TV
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Project coordination for 'Crossing America'.
Media Coordinator at Nikkei TV
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Project coordination for 'Detroit'.
Media Coordinator at TV Tokyo
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Project coordination for 'Working Dad'.
Media Coordinator at TBS
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Project coordination for 'The man who want to be Ken doll'.
Production Sound/Camera at JETRO
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Production sound and camera for JETRO project.
Media Coordinator at Fuji TV
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Coordination for 'Top of the world'.
Director/Producer at Uncanny Terrain
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Director/Producer for 'Uncanny Terrain', PSA series including Ganbatte 365.
Production Coordinator at Dave Spector Biography Special
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Production coordination for a Biography Special (TBS).
Production Coordinator at NHK International
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Production coordination for J-Melo.
Production Coordinator at TBS
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Production coordination for 'Cooking Adventure'.
Associate Producer at Waitergonebad Productions
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Associate producer for 'Quiero Ser'.
Production Manager at Ritto Music
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Production manager for 'Billy Branch Blues Harp'.
Production Manager at Waitergonebad Productions
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Production manager for 'Single Chef Pilot'.
Production Manager at Waitergonebad Productions
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Production manager for 'Since They Got Rid of Time'.
Production Manager at Jeremy Braverman
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000
Production manager for 'Life is So Easy'.
Production Manager at Suree Towfighnia
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000
Production manager for 'Alone in a Crowded Room'.
Writer/Director at Pass the Hat
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Writer/Director for a 13-min short.
Writer/Director at Homeless
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Writer/Director for a 15-min short.
Lecturer / Instructor at George Mason University
January 1, 2022 - Present
Career development seminar facilitation.
Instructor at Chicago Filmmakers
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2013
Teaching and workshop facilitation in filmmaking.
Lecturer / Documentary Production at Columbia College Chicago
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production.
Lecturer / Documentary Production at The Art Institute of Chicago
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production.
Lecturer / Documentary Production at Herald Washington College
December 31, 2013 - December 30, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production.
Camera and Sound Recordist at Future, Short Documentary Series
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Camera and sound recording for Future short documentary series.
Production Manager at Dave Spector Biography Special
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Production management for Dave Spector Biography Special.
Production Coordinator at J-Melo
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Production coordination for NHK International program J-Melo.
Production Coordinator at Cooking Adventure
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Production coordination for Cooking Adventure (TBS).
Associate Producer at Quiero Ser
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Associate producing for Waitergonebad Productions.
Production Manager at Billy Branch Blues Harp
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Production management for Billy Branch Blues Harp project.
Production Manager at Single Chef Pilot
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Production management for Single Chef Pilot (Waitergonebad Productions).
Script Supervisor at Shun Kikuta R&B
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Script supervision (Japanese/English) for Shun Kikuta R&B.
Script Supervisor/Assistant Editor at Chicago Blues
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Script supervision/assistant editing for Chicago Blues (Ritto Music).
Producer, Director and Writer at Echoes of My Father
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Producer, director and writer for Echoes of My Father (Dances with Films Festival 2023).
Producer, Director and Writer at Uncanny Terrain
January 1, 2012 - Present
Producer, director and writer for Uncanny Terrain (2012–) feature documentary.
Producer, Director and Writer at The First Breath of Tengan Rei
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Producer, director and writer for The First Breath of Tengan Rei (2009).
Production Manager at Anguish
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Production management for Anguish (2013).
Unit Production Manager at Street Thief
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007
Unit production manager for Street Thief (2007).
Instructor at George Mason University
January 1, 2022 - Present
Career Development Seminar instructor (teaching).
Instructor at Columbia College Chicago
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production (teaching).
Instructor at Art Institutes of Chicago
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production (teaching).
Instructor at Herald Washington College
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018
Gest Lecture in Documentary Production (teaching).
Customer Service Representative at ABC Company
June 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020
Assisted customers with inquiries and resolved issues in a timely and professional manner. Maintained thorough knowledge of company products and policies.
Event Planner at XYZ Company
September 1, 2020 - November 30, 2020
Coordinated and planned events for clients, including coordinating vendors, handling event logistics, and managing budgets. Developed strong communication skills through regular client interactions.
Editor at Upstream, Downriver Media Projects
January 1, 2026 - January 1, 2026
Edited short documentary segments for a multi-project series, collaborating with producers to craft story arcs and refine interviews and B-roll.
Editor at Center for Good Food Purchasing, Power of Procurement
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Edited documentary content exploring procurement practices and food systems with a focus on clear storytelling and audience engagement.
Editor at CGTN, Life in Chicago South Side
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Edited feature segments for CGTN's Life in Chicago South Side, integrating interviews with on-location footage.
Editor at Bapsi
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Sample cut editor on a feature film documentary, collaborating with director and post team to shape the narrative.
Camera and Sound Recordist at Homel Foods
January 1, 2023 - Present
On-set camera operation and production sound recording for multiple documentary projects.
Camera and Sound Recordist at Vlad TV
January 1, 2023 - Present
2nd camera and sound recordist for Vlad TV productions.
Camera and Sound Recordist at Northwestern University Alumni Association
January 1, 2023 - Present
2nd camera and sound recordist for alumni events and related projects.

Education

at Columbia College Chicago
January 11, 2030 - April 28, 2026
at Wright State University
January 11, 2030 - April 28, 2026
at Japan College of Social Work
January 11, 2030 - April 28, 2026
at COLUMBIA College Chicago
January 11, 2030 - April 29, 2026
at Wright State University
January 11, 2030 - April 29, 2026
at Japan College of Social Work
January 11, 2030 - April 29, 2026
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at New York University
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at New York University
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Other, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services