Time on the Skin has roots in feelings and associations to stereotypes that have been part of my life since I was a teenager in Japan.
While much pride is taken in the culture of deference developed around people who are aging, as one moves through their adult life, opportunities quickly lessen and subtexts of ridicule, in various forms, are common.
It’s both a constantly striking contrast and painful reality to me. Women in Japan often try to appear much younger than they are in order to avoid losing respect from others, but in the process their dignity and sense of self can easily be lost.
As someone who has always looked forward to the different views and experiences a long life would afford me, I seek to offer another way to see and think about growing older.
