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Friendship with Japanese-American artists = "I don't feel like I'm 100 years old"
Although her professional life was centered mainly in Brazilian society, in her private life she also enjoyed friendships with Japanese painters.
Sculptor Yutaka Toyoda (82, Yamagata, naturalized citizen), who was close to Tomie around the 1970s, recalls, "At that time, it seemed like Tomie was chasing after Mabe and Fukushima, who were already famous. Usually, once you start something after turning 40, it ends up just being a hobby. That's how strong-willed she was."
Every Saturday, Tomie, who was in her 60s at the time, would visit the Toyoda family home in Butantan, a gathering place for artists. In a photo from an old album, she can be seen dancing merrily in a suit until the early hours of the morning.
It seems that he continued to lead such an active private life even after he turned 80. Yoshizawa Futoshi, who has been his assistant since 1997, recalls, "He had many social interactions and wasn't at home much at night. He would go to concerts and attend other people's exhibitions, absorbing a lot of different things."
Her sturdiness was incredible, and "even when she was over 80, she would say, 'It's too early,' after midnight. She never got sick until she was about 90. Even when I had a cold, she never caught it, and she smoked cigarettes all the time." Tomie has a robust build and a robust health that half-amazes Yoshizawa, who is in his early 50s and in the prime of his working life.
One of his "nightlife" friends was the painter Sachiko Koshiishi (76, Fukui). She had worked at an advertising agency in Tokyo, but in 1965, during the period of rapid economic growth, she moved to Brazil, thinking, "It's boring to just go to Tokyo and get married. I want to test myself." She reminds Tomie a bit of her father, a school principal who was very strict about tradition, of making a false promise that she would "come back in a year."
The two naturally hit it off, and in 1973 they went on a world trip together, touring art museums in the U.S. and Europe. He was one of the people closest to Tomie, but he didn't say much about him, saying, "It's hard to say what to say... We weren't the kind of friends who were always close."
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Although Tomie was happy to be interviewed, she did not seem to like talking about her private life. During the interview, she would occasionally ask, "What are you trying to say about me?" and after an hour, she laughed and said, "It's already Shega," to end the interview.
"I don't know if it's good or bad, but the newspapers often write about me," he said, which I took to mean he was wary of the media. The more famous you become, the more likely you are to be the target of jealousy and criticism. For all the praise he received, he must have also received criticism somewhere.
On her 100th birthday on the 21st, she was given unusually extensive coverage in Brazilian newspapers and on television. This time, the Asahi Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun also ran articles about her in Japan, adding to the excitement. However, out of all the Japanese artists, why is Tomie especially revered by Brazilian society? Even after the interview was over, this remained a mystery.
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Tomie, who is now older than her mother, who died at the age of 77, is surprised at her own health and stamina, saying, "I never thought I'd live to be 100. They say you live 100 years, 100 years, but I don't feel that way at all." Posters, prints, sculptures, stage sets... She has taken on a variety of artistic endeavors. She is a woman of boundless creativity, strict in her work and uncompromising, and strong will.
But I was impressed when he said, "When Japan becomes weak, our hearts become weak." He is a "high-collared man" who has lived a strong life abroad, even receiving the prestigious Order of Culture together with the famous architect Niemeyer. But I felt a little relieved to see that Japan is still his homeland, which he holds dear in his heart.
*This article is reprinted from the Nikkei Shimbun (November 28, 2013).
© 2013 Nikkey Shimbun