“Meet the Smiles 3 ~ Walking on the Colorful Planet,” photography exhibition held on campus
Mon, May 23, 2016-
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Waseda Gallery, 5/10/2016
Waseda Gallery
Naoto Okazaki’s profile in the main hall
Show window space in Building 27
Photos in the ICC Lounge
Photography exhibition “Meet the Smiles 3 ~ Walking on the Colorful Planet” was held from May 6th – 9th. The photographer, Naoto Okazaki, is an administrative staff in the Academic & Student Affairs Section in the Center for Science and Engineering at Waseda University. He has traveled over 50 countries on his own to take photos during holiday breaks and vacations.
Globalization has progressed at such a rate that society has become an ever increasingly smaller place in which to live. From overseas travel, foreign study, to working abroad, international exchange between cultures is now a part of our daily lives. On the other hand, the divide between Japan and the many countries around the world afflicted by issues of terrorism, public security, and hygiene couldn’t be stronger. This exhibition was a collection of photographic work was dedicated to delivering images of people, especially their smiles, and landscapes from 51 countries and regions around the world, including Syria, Namibia, Tuvalu, Colombia and Cuba.
We asked Okazaki why his subjects smile at him. He said, “I don’t suddenly ask people if I could take their pictures. I talk to them and play with them. I think I am able to take pictures of people smiling naturally because I make effort to communicate with them.” We also asked him if he has ever sensed danger. He replied, “I have never felt threatened because I always stay alert to where danger is. The best way to stay out of trouble is listening for children playing and going towards that direction.”
This photography exhibition was meant to be a heartfelt experience. There was no need to think deeply, but relax and enjoy the smiles of people from around the world as they are. This exhibition simply reminded us that when you smile, people smile back at you.
Okazaki has held exhibitions previously in Shimokitazawa, but this was his first at his workplace.
Naoto Okazaki
Born and raised in Tokyo. Loves beach volleyball, the ocean, reading, watching movies, guitar, coffee, curry rice, and social sciences.
