citylikeyou — Tokyo / Mari Kojima

Mari Kojima was born in Shimane, Japan, but since then has spent time on and off living abroad. Because of a family crisis at home, she returned back to Japan in 2008, and soon after discovered photography as a means to express the inner turmoil and happiness that exists within her. Besides taking photos, she has worked as a fashion designer assistant, curator, FM radio DJ, project manager, event planner. Since Fall 2010, she started running a little publishing company called Bathysphere Books. She now works and lives in Tokyo.

http://www.marikojima.com

Photographer

Current city: Tokyo

marikojima.com

Tokyo / Event

My friends run this event space called Asoko in Koenji. I had an event there last summer and the theme was “mad scientist” and this photo is actually from that night. We made 300 falafels for it. By the way, Asoko means “there,” but also is a slang for a vagina.

Tokyo / Place

My friend, Yamada’s house. He is an editor for some big magazine company and he has so many mangas and also has a wii and an xbox360, which is a total paradise for me.

Tokyo / Park

Amazing picnic spot in all seasons. During summer time, we usually bring in beers and food and just hang out there all day long. It’s nice to bring a speaker to listen to music, or any card games, or maybe a Frisbee. I also recommend Inokashira Park in Kichijoji as well.

Tokyo / Beach

A little island/beach community in Kanagawa, which is about an hour away from downtown of Tokyo by train. The beach there is really dirty but I love the place. I used to work at the radio station by Enoshima as an assistant DJ. After the recording, I hopped on the train to go see the beach pretty often.

Tokyo / Park

It’s a really big beautiful botanical park in Tokyo with a nice green house. I went there a few months ago after the big typhoon hit there, many trees were knocked down by the killing wind, even big ones. Recently some newscaster’s body was found there, but hey, it’s still an amazing park.

Tokyo / Artist

Masatoshi Amemiya aka MA is an artist, painter and graffiti-artist representing Tokyo. Born in Japan 1985 and has been painting and raising his middle finger ever since. He held his first solo exhibition "BORN IN JAPAN [F*** you, I won't do what you tell me]"24 Feb to 29 Feb 2012 in Tokyo. He likes Ai Wei Wei a little bit.

Tokyo / Photographer

Hiroshi Takizawa is a Tokyo based photographer who graduated from Mejiro University Faculty of Human Sciences Department of Psychological Counseling in 2006. Recently Hiroshi was awarded the Tokyo Frontline Photo Award 2012. "The reason why I take pictures is probably due to my desire to know about the root of everything. Of course, there is always more than one essence to things, and opinions differ depending on where you stand. However, there is only one truth. Perhaps, preparation and experience is required to accept this antinomy. It seems difficult to know the root of everything in this antinomy, but I will continue to compare the inside and outside in my works, based on the belief that everything is connected."

Tokyo / Artist

Mayumi Yamase is an artist living and working in Tokyo. Her work whether a drawing, a painting or in 3D-form is composed of colours and organic forms. How the space is occupied with these colours and shapes helps to unfold unexpected forms organically grown like a plants and living like organs and a unique dialogue between them. Mayumi has exhibited pieces in London, Singapore and numerous times in throughout Japan alongside commissioned work for Comme des Garçons.

Tokyo / Visual Artist

Artist / Wanderer / Mum

Tokyo / Art Director

colle inc

More People in Tokyo 61