Kanako Yoshida
originally published in her. magazine volume 08
Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?
I was born and grew up on a mountainside in Hyogo, Japan. I was a very active and aggressive girl, always playing outside with the boys. Also, my grandparents lived nearby to my house, so I grew up with them as well. They own a civil engineering and construction company so there was lots of equipment around for me to play with. They made me my own swing and sandpit and other things to play with. I loved playing with wood and tools to create something. It was like DIY. My mom said that I was keen on many different kinds of things, so I took lots of classes like swimming, shuji, which is Japanese calligraphy, English, piano for a very short time, and soroban, which is traditional Japanese mathematics using an abacus.
Were you always creative and interested in doing creative things?
Yes, I have loved creating things ever since I was a child (mainly clothes). I love sewing because my mom is good at it and she made some clothes and yukata which inspired me to make something by myself. When I was in junior high school, I would reform clothes (like making skirts from jeans and adding some decorations). I also lived in America and went to the local high school for one year. In American school, I took photography, sculpting, sewing, basic art etc. and I learned as much as I could. At that time, I enjoyed the photography class where I learned very basic things like making and using a pinhole camera and developing film in the dark room by myself.
How did you first got interested in becoming a makeup artist?
I loved fashion so first I thought I would love to become a fashion designer, but I couldn't clearly imagine myself doing it. Then I started to think about how I could get involved with the fashion industry. I had been obsessed with doing my own makeup since the age of 14 or 15. Then, when I went to America high school, I had the opportunity to do makeup for the school theatre company who were performing Le Miserable. Even though it was classic and old-fashioned makeup, it was the first time for me to do makeup on someone else with a serious purpose. I was impressed with their play and I enjoyed being a part of the team. That's when I decided that makeup would be a good career for me, just in the fashion industry.
Can you tell about your education in becoming a makeup artist?
I studied hair and makeup for 2 years in Osaka and after graduating, because I couldn't imagine myself assisting anyone in Tokyo, I decided to move to London. When I moved to London, I didn't know anybody and didn't know anything about the industry, so I just made my website and started approaching creators. At same time, I was contacting agencies to find a job as an assistant, but it wasn't easy to meet any makeup artists who I actually wanted to work with. Therefore, I did my own shoots and through these, I taught myself a lot of things, gained valuable experience, and really motivated myself to keep moving forward. After living in London for about 3 years, I moved to Paris for a year where I finally started doing assisting jobs more consistently. I've had some great experiences working for myself and they have really helped a lot with assisting. Then, when I was 25 years old, I moved back to Japan and started my career in Tokyo.
Can you talk about your style and approach to makeup? What separates you from other makeup artists?
I would say that my makeup doesn't have a specific style. When I started makeup, I was trying to figure out my style and I kept comparing myself to other makeup artists. However, through experience, I realized that it's not all about my makeup, it's dependent on who I'm working with. I love working with artists who have strong concepts or images in mind. I know that it's difficult to explain makeup if they are not makeup artist, so I see my role as helping them to express their own style and creativity. I always listen carefully to what they want and then try to achieve something that's beyond their expectations.
Who has been your greatest influence?
Firstly, I would say my parents. Even when I hadn't decided what I wanted to be, I had strong ideas to own my own business. This has definitely come from the respect I have for them. They've always given me lots of choice and have never tried force me into anything. I've always been allowed to choose and decide everything by myself, and because of that, I have always felt that I'm responsible for my own choices. Secondly, I would say that Kamo, a well-known hair and makeup artist based in Tokyo, has been a huge influence on me. I met him when I was 24 years old and living in Paris, and even before I met him, I loved his work. Since then, I've worked with him many times and I have so much respect him as artist. Finally, I would say Lucia Pica who is a makeup artist as well as my current boss. I met her for the first time when I was 23 years old and she is the artist who I assisted properly for the first time. Now, after eight years, we are working together again, it's wonderful.
When it comes to designers, stylists and photographers, you have worked with some really big names. Can you tell me how you approach each creator differently?
This answer is not too different to the answer to question 5. With photographers and stylists, whether they are a big name or not, there are usually no specific differences to my approach. I just follow what they want and try to exceed their expectations. When I work with a designer, it's usually for a show so there are lots of different things going on. I suggest some makeup ideas that I have prepared on either myself or my friends, then will I try them on a model as a makeup test. When they actually see the makeup, they can decide what they like and dislike and then we can discuss it. I might remove everything, or it could be just slight changes, but I have to keep trying until they are satisfied. I love doing shows and bringing to life what's in a designer's mind. I also love to work in a team, as I'm constantly learning from others and finding new ways to develop my craft.
Now that you are based in London, can you talk about the city and how it influences you? Also, how has your career changed since the move?
Although I am based in London, I actually work in Paris most of the time. Therefore, London is home, and for the moment, Paris is work. When I'm in London, I'm usually just chilling, seeing friends, going to exhibitions with my boyfriend, and doing research etc... I never had enough time for myself before moving to London so it's nice to spend some time off. London is such an exciting city to live in. I live in between Broadway Market and a flower market, and while it's not the best area, there are lots of small shops and many people around. My favourite place is the Barbican Centre. The building itself is amazing and there are always great exhibitions there. I also spend lots of time in Paris and it's nice to feel the difference between the two cities. Career-wise, right after I moved to London, I was offered the position of first assistant with my current boss. I had no experience and hadn't considered being anyone's first assistant in London. However, it was an opportunity that I couldn't turn down because it would be such a valuable experience that I could never get in Japan.
Going forward, what do you want to achieve as a makeup artist?
Makeup is my passion and motivation so I would love to continue doing what I've been doing. At the same time, I feel that makeup is the perfect tool for me to communicate and express myself, so I would love to use it as a platform to influence others, maybe through directing a cosmetic brand or being the beauty editor for a magazine. But I don't need to stick solely with makeup. I'm really keen to open a management agency, and through my experience, I think I will be good at managing other people's careers. Ideally, I would love to keep living in Europe, going back and forth between Europe and Japan.
If you weren't a makeup artist, what do you think you would be?
I would work hard in whatever job I had but being a makeup artist gives me everything I need and it's a perfect way to express myself, so I wouldn't choose to do anything else.
Photography_ Shono Inoue
Design_ Hiroya Kadono
kanakoyoshida.com