Tokyo Soap Opera
by Tomoaki Makino
FOIL
ISBN 978-4902943078
As a Korean drama addict, I can totally relate to this set of images by Tomoaki Makino.
I didn’t(still don’t) know much about her when I got the book in 2005 but bought it out of my respect and love for the photographer’s ability to make something out of nothing.
From the short introduction text at the back of the book, I know this came out of her own fascination with her mom.
She must have been wondering why her mom lives the way she does, how other middle-aged Japanese women may be similar, and how her own generation may or may not walk the same route/s.
I like how the images are created probably with little instruction from the artist other than a simple plead to “imagine yourself as a TV drama character”.
Yes you will laugh at some of the ‘funny’ poses and how they resemble what you see in TV programs. But there is nothing funny about it if this is how they want to be portrayed. And I am pretty sure the real life inspires the reel life, and vice versa.