“Yoko × Matsuyo”
Mother has two names
In the day, she goes by “Matsuyo”
At night, “Yoko”
High heels
Sweet perfume
Red lipstick
At night, fully equipped with the weapons of a woman, she vanishes into Gion’s dazzling streets
I detest the job of a bar hostess
I am longing for women’s strength, gorgeousness and glamorousness.
I deeply appreciate this woman who works hard for me every night.
But I cannot simply accept her. Whenever I give her a reproachful glance, she never flinches and looks me square in the eye.
2003: Entered Seian University of Art and Design Department of Photography
Selecting judge: Nobuyoshi Araki
I found this photo to be the most sensual of this year’s entries. Though the woman in the photograph is the photographer’s mother she has a rather intimidating quality. She fiercely projects a feminine sort of hardness, the harsh and jaded outlook of a woman of Kyoto. The subject makes an immediate and deep impression.
She stands directly in front of her mother and takes a picture capturing honest emotion. Women have a cruel side and therefore they can confront in this form. A man could never express himself this way. Thoroughly capturing this strength in a photograph takes real ability. The photograph’s composition is also very well arranged. This shows once again that photography needs to photograph women.
