Among the recent collaboration works that the Japonista team is cooking, we are proud to introduce Shiho Kodate. A young and promising global Japanese hair and makeup artist seeking new thresholds, Shiho eagerly went to New York to study the “foreign” approach to hair and make-up artist where she took a half-year intensive course while having hands-on experience with non- Japanese who were her subjects in her works and practice.

As we interviewed her on what she thinks about the Japanese fashion, styling and hair and make-up industry, we discovered that the inner drives that catapults the Japanese in the forefront of fashion in all aspects. She points out that, there is the complex feeling that most Japanese, especially women, are longing to have the natural features that “foreigners” have, thus, motivating them to stretch the limits of creativity x technology x innovation in seeking new grounds and standards for what is cute, beautiful or simply kawaii.

Her passion for doing hair and make-up stems from her treating it like her bestfriend. With the inspiration and influence of the young Japanese girls around here in general, she thought that she would like to grow it and nurture her talents and inclinations by making it a dream to become a global artist someday.

According to her, Japanese women or young girls in general are fond of anything “kawaii” and cute things. This thing for kawaii is deeply rooted in the traditional concept of “Yamato Nadeshiko” where the women are supposedly have to be serve as the support and backbone of men and establish the image of the latter in the society by the ways and methods she acts and “puts him up” in the social dealings and matters (男性を立てる). However, this image of the Japanese women has greatly transformed differently to an entirely different feminine world filled with “kawaii” and cute.

With this in mind and in the DNA of the Japanese, being herself too, she feels that this taste and feeling could not be entirely shared to the world by simple demonstration or teaching via schooling but something that has to he experienced locally here in Japan.

We will be showcasing some of her works and projects soon in our photo gallery.

Right now, she is busy with freelance work and fashion shoot projects and plans to enter an agency someday to propel her career and ambitions.

To her, this creative passion pursuit is like her best friend and her everything.

Her favorite models and sources of inspirations are:

• Sasha Pivovarova
• Anabela Belikova
• Irina Kulikova
• Rasa Zukauskaite
• Ymre Stiekema
• Karlie Kloss
• Kate Moss

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