PRESS RELEASE
x August 2013
Who is Mirai-chan?
In celebration of the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Year 2013, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in cooperation with Nanarokusha Publishing Inc., proudly presents the photography exhibition “Mirai-chan: A little girl with chubby red cheeks” by Kotori Kawashima in Hanoi from Sunday 18 August to Sunday 15 September 2013.
A Japanese promising photographer Kotori Kawashima has shot a photography series “Mirai-chan”, through a year, containing portraits of the daughter of his friend in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture in the northern central region of Japan.
Being on the cover of a legendary famous arts and culture magazine “BRUTUS” triggered a big sensation in Japan and “Mirai-chan” became the talk of the town as a super adorable girl who conveys the vitality and energy of life. The photography book “Mirai-chan” has been sold exceptionally well, with over 100,000 copies since March 2011.
The photography exhibition “Mirai-chan” has been also warmly received in several cities including Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, and was invited to Thailand and Taiwan. Vietnam is the third foreign country who hosts this charming exhibition.
“Mirai” in the title means “Future” in Japanese and “chan” is a Japanese suffix added to the end of one’s name, being used when people call a person in a friendly manner. The adorable girl’s real name is, however, not Mirai. The photography series “Mirai-chan” is not a documentary but is created from Kotori Kawashima’s conceptual idea.
Kotori thinks that the girl in the photography series possesses a lovable human nature which is universal for all human-being. He also thinks that there is a hint to think about future in the midst of beautifully changing four seasons and Japanese traditional culture remaining over generations in Sado Island. These ideas gave a birth to the conceptual girl “Mirai-chan”.
We do hope that the viewers will share the moments of the joyful and surprising feelings with “Mirai-chan” who experiences first contacts with the world in various occasions. The exhibition is free admission and held at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam (27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi). Its opening starts at 16:00 on Saturday 17 August with the photographer’s talk and runs until Sunday 15 September 2013.
For inquiries on the exhibition and interview with the photographer, please contact at:
Ms. Da Huong (04-3944-7419 ext: 113) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam TEL 04-3944-7419 www.jpf.org.vn
Mirai-chan: A little girl with chubby red cheeks
Organized by: The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
In cooperation with: Nanarokusha Publishing Inc.
Duration: Sunday 18 August – Sunday 15 September 2013
Venue: The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
[Opening hours 09:00 – 18:00, no closed days]
TEL 04 3944 7419
Opening: 16:00 – Saturday 17 August 2013
Including:
A Photographer’s talk by Kotori Kawashima
“Who is Mirai-chan?”
*Everyone can attend the opening.
Kotori Kawashima
http://kawashimakotori.com
Born in 1980 in Tokyo
Works and lives in Tokyo
Graduated from Department of French Literature, School of Letters, Arts and Science, Waseda University
Studied photography under Genqui Numata. In 2006, Kotori Kawashima earned the Grand Prize at the 10th Itaru Hirama by Shinpusha for his work “BABY BABY” in which he took a photography series of one girl, resulting in the publication of the same titled photography book. In 2011, he received the 42nd Publishing Culture Prize by Kodansha for Photography for his work “Mirai-chan”. Currently he has been working mainly for shooting portraits but also active in taking photographs for books, magazines and CD covers.
■ Selected Artworks
Remarks:
For the usage of the following images for your media, please contact the staffs in charge above. We will provide a bigger size of each image upon your request.