Pursuing What She Truly Loves: Moving to the US to Become a Makeup Artist

Alumna Risako Matsushita (Graduate of the Faculty of Letters)

2023/04/27

Risako Matsushita / Makeup Artist

Graduated in 2010 from the Faculty of Letters, majoring in Aesthetics and Art History. After graduating from university, she worked in sales at Fujitsu Limited for four years. She then decided to pursue a career as a makeup artist and left the company. She moved to New York by herself, and after working as an assistant, she began her career as a freelance makeup artist. She has worked on the front lines of fashion and beauty, participating in brand advertisement shoots for companies like COACH, MARC JACOBS, and MARNI, as well as shoots for top fashion magazines such as *ELLE*, *Harper's BAZAAR*, and *marie claire*. Since 2021, she has been based in Tokyo, actively expanding her range of activities to include giving lectures, conducting makeup lessons, and sharing information on social media.

-We heard you were born overseas and are a returnee.

Matsushita: I was born in New York, USA, where my father was posted for work. When I was nine, we moved to Toronto, Canada, but I was the only Japanese student at my new elementary school. I couldn't fit in and spent about a year feeling completely alone. What saved me from that loneliness was my imagination and creating things. I would draw pictures and manga, or use the computer to create a magazine with fictional stories for my family to read. I loved creating images and stories in my head and making things with my hands.

-Why did you decide to attend the Faculty of Letters at Keio University?

Matsushita: While I was looking at universities, I discovered that the Faculty of Letters at Keio University offered a major in Aesthetics and Art History. It was a major not commonly found at other universities, and I thought, "This is where I want to go!" I decided on it without hesitation.

The university classes were more interesting than I had expected, and I studied very hard. I also obtained my curator certification while I was a student.

At the time, however, art was just a hobby for me, and I never thought of it as a future career. I wanted to join Fujitsu Limited because the HR representative I met during my interview gave me the impression that they truly accepted me for who I was. I also resonated with their words: "You can only do good work when it is for the world, for others, and for yourself." Fortunately, I passed the entrance exam and spent the next four years in sales, working to expand the overseas market for supercomputers. I traveled to various countries on business trips, was blessed with great colleagues, and found the work itself rewarding. However, in the midst of my busy days, I had a realization: "Work takes up such a long time in one's life." This gradually led me to think, "Wouldn't I be happier if I turned what I love into my job?" From then on, I started thinking about what I loved that could also be a career. At the time, I was running a beauty blog as a hobby in my spare time. I absolutely loved cosmetics and makeup, which sparked my interest in the profession of a makeup artist.

So, I immediately signed up for a "one-day makeup workshop" held by a vocational school. It was my first time applying makeup to someone other than myself, and I was captivated by learning makeup as a "skill." I felt a strong sense of artistry in "making people beautiful," and it was a moment that truly moved me. I felt that this was a job where I could make myself happy by making others happy with makeup. I became convinced that being a makeup artist was the job that fulfilled those three conditions—"for the world, for others, and for yourself"—and I was determined to pursue this path.

-So that's when you took your first step as a makeup artist.

Matsushita: Yes. While still working at my company, I attended a one-year Sunday hair and makeup course at a vocational school to learn the basics of makeup. After that, I quit my job. Since I was starting late in the industry, I was eager to gain skills and experience, so I decided to go to New York, where major photoshoots and fashion shows take place. In New York, I attended the MAKE UP FOR EVER ACADEMY for six months, where I learned a wide range of makeup techniques, including beauty/fashion, special effects makeup, and body painting. At the same time, I contacted every local photographer I could find and frequently did test shoots. Once I had a portfolio of work I was satisfied with, the next step was to contact the artists I admired, show them my work, and get hired as an assistant. I also shared a lot of jobs with friends I made at makeup school and took on many individual assignments. I was so eager to gain experience that I did not only shoots with professional models but also on-location makeup for the general public. My clients ranged in age from their teens to their 70s, with diverse backgrounds, skin conditions, concerns, and makeup preferences. It was a tremendous learning experience and greatly helped me improve my skills. Then, starting in 2017, I joined an artist management agency and have primarily worked on shoots for fashion brands and magazines, as well as makeup for fashion shows.

-It sounds like your career as a makeup artist went smoothly after moving to the US.

Matsushita: Oh no, not at all. For the first two years, I had no acquaintances there, so it was a battle with loneliness. I was also overwhelmed by the high skill level of those around me, and I became homesick. It was really tough. Eventually, I made good friends in the same industry, and my work environment gradually became more enjoyable. Also, after going freelance, I had to shed my "assistant mentality" and worked very hard to establish my own style.

-Is there a memorable job that helped you establish your own stance as an artist?

Matsushita: I would say it was the experience of being a lead makeup artist, directing the makeup team at major shows like New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The experience of leading a team in a chaotic environment involving so many people, including models and staff, gave me a sense of accomplishment and boosted my confidence. The experiences from the shows in New York, Milan, Paris... I feel they have all become a part of me.

I've had opportunities to do makeup for famous people, which is of course wonderful, but it's not just that. I often get a lot of stimulation and inspiration from the shoot crew, including photographers, stylists, and hair stylists. The crew often changes with each shoot, so getting to meet so many amazing people through my work is perhaps one of the charms of this job.

-What do you feel are your unique qualities as a makeup artist?

Matsushita: I believe I'm the type who emphasizes subtlety. The final look of the makeup can change dramatically with slight differences in detail. I make sure to fully understand the brand's story and the client's vision, and I work with the client to pursue the best form of expression. While delivering the required results, I always want to create makeup that excites me, and I'm conscious of crafting every detail beautifully.

-Since 2021, you've moved your base to Tokyo.

Matsushita: My husband got a job at a company in Tokyo, and I was also interested in doing makeup work in Tokyo, so the timing was just right. After returning to Japan, I joined an agency in Tokyo and increasingly participated in shoots for fashion magazines and brands targeting women in their 20s and 30s, as well as commercial shoots for international brands, making use of my language skills. In addition to shoots, I've expanded my activities to include lectures on beauty and working as a makeup instructor. In June 2022, I was delighted to give a lecture titled "Makeup in the Age of COVID-19" as part of a welcome event for new students at the Hiyoshi Campus, where I once studied. During that lecture, I learned that many current students are concerned about their appearance. Nowadays, image processing and filters on social media have become commonplace, and I feel that many people unknowingly lose confidence by being exposed to them daily. Through my experiences in New York, applying makeup to people from various backgrounds and encountering diverse cultural aesthetics, I learned that there are countless standards of beauty. Therefore, I want each person to recognize their own unique beauty, and to help with that, I've recently been focusing on private lessons and sharing makeup information on social media. As of November, I left my agency and am now working completely freelance. I'm the type of person who doesn't feel alive unless I'm constantly moving forward, so I'm eager to take on any new challenges related to makeup.

-Finally, do you have a message for current Keio students?

Matsushita: I'd say, "Don't forget the heart that is moved!" It's a phrase I borrowed from my seminar professor, but I cherish it. When you're busy every day, it's easy to get used to things and overlook what you love or what truly moves you. But when you encounter something in your daily life that "moves you" or that you "love from the bottom of your heart," I hope you will cherish that feeling and nurture it instead of letting it pass by. It was through this that I found my current job, and I can still never forget the excitement and passion I felt when I first encountered this work. It's been ten years since then, but that feeling has been my driving force. I believe that the days and efforts you accumulate in this way will surely become the strength that supports your future self.

-Thank you for your time today.

This article was originally published in the "Jukuin Sanmyaku" (Keio University alumni Profiles) section of *Juku* WINTER 2023 (No. 317).