Electric Japan: Mayumi Hirata

London based photographer, Mayumi Hirata shares her latest series Jump!, defying the depression of lockdown by inviting her subjects to literally jump for joy.

JUMP!

Watch an introduction to Jump! from Mayumi Hirata

Jump! is Mayumi Hirata’s photographic project celebrating Japanese artists and others living far from the land of the rising sun. Artists and performers, designers, chefs and even monks are each captured jumping against a backdrop of identifiably classical European settings. Each image seeks to present “free spirits and movement” as well as “challenges in unfamiliar settings”, all with a small dash of humour.

When asked to “jump”, the dynamic between photographer and subject changes, tension dissipates and the shoot becomes more relaxed, with a positive effect on the outcome.

In contemporary Japan, the control of rules and laws, a lengthy recession, and the internet providing an increased ability to view the world from the comfort of home have contributed to a tendency for Japanese to think there is “no point in having dreams”. Less are attempting to travel abroad to live their dream. Being open to the other and not closed in behind borders is vital to Mayumi Hirata.

After the 215 year closed period of the Edo era (1639-1853), the Samurai cut off their symbolic pony tails and Japan rapidly absorbed the Western way of living and culture albeit in its own special way. Brexit and other factors may well make it more difficult for international artists to come to Britain, but Mayumi hopes Britain won’t slam the door shut to foreigners. She is keen to encourage Japanese to challenge themselves and do something outrageous, creative and beautiful outside their homeland – if they do, she is convinced the effect will be liberating.