Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2007

Chiba native Makiko Tsuji has been interested in art since she was little—which is unsurprising, since her mother was a painter. After working as a photographer’s assistant in Japan, Tsuji moved to Australia and then New Zealand to seek more opportunities and artistic inspiration. Now she is back in Tokyo with a new exhibition featuring photos from New Zealand.

Could you tell us more about your work?
I’m currently working as a freelance photographer, mainly contributing to magazines. Besides that, I love going abroad to work on my projects. I’m always fascinated by seeing things through a camera. For me, photography is a great tool to communicate with people from different cultures without having to worry about a language barrier. For instance, after moving back to Japan, I worked on a project titled “My Favorite Place,” which is a photo collection of foreigners’ favorite places in Tokyo. It was a refreshing experience since it gave me an opportunity to rediscover the city I thought I knew like the back of my hand.

Tell us about your new exhibition.
Unlike the busy and stressful lifestyle Tokyoites endure daily, New Zealanders tend to be more laid-back and know how to live with the natural world. My current exhibition, “Natural,” represents this aspect of the country and people. Also, I’m excited to present my works at New Zealand Café, which I think is the best place in Tokyo to experience the country’s food and culture.

What’s your favorite subject?
I love taking pictures of children in natural settings. I think the presence of kids adds a calm and gentle vibe to the scenery. I’m especially fascinated by how children seem to melt into the scenery, making everything tender and happy.

What’s your next goal?
I would love to travel around the world and keep taking inspiring pictures. One day I hope to become a world-famous photographer.

New Zealand Café, until Oct 21. See exhibition listings (Akasaka/Roppongi) for details. www.makiphotography.co.nz