Yukie Akimoto: Personal style

This article appears in Volume 1 of Tokyo Weekend. 5.
To read the entire issue, click here.

Plain bangs, waist-length raven hair, perfect cherry-red lips and eyes outlined with sharp eyeliner: fashion model Kozue Akimoto’s look was simple and defined. This look has become her signature over more than a decade in the industry, in a career that spans continents and media. She’s been on the cover of Vogue Japan; she’s appeared on TV and on the catwalk, including a memorable stop at Paris Fashion Week; she’s hosted her own radio show and written two books… so There are countless examples.

It’s safe to say that Akimoto has become a major force in the Japanese fashion industry. But it wasn’t just her appearance that made her so memorable. When speaking with her, one is immediately struck by her confidence and the sense of someone who is unwaveringly committed to her values ​​and personal style. Rather than entering the fashion industry by its dictates, Akimoto carved out a niche for herself and in the process created her own definition of what a model should look like.

Akimoto Kozue Exclusive Q&A

TW: How did you get into fashion? Where did your passion for fashion come from?
Yukie Akimoto: I have always loved clothes. When I was in elementary school, I would go to Harajuku alone with my pocket money. When I was in college, I had a few jobs at a salon, which led to me being asked to do some shoots. My current agency discovered me around that time and I started modeling. Quite simply, I love clothes – I love my job where I can think about how to design, express and participate in fashion.

Did you face any obstacles when starting out in the fashion industry?
I get some attention just because I have a famous father [Akimoto is the second daughter of Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, the 58th grand sumo champion]but I had a strong desire to carve my own path without relying on my parents. I struggled with the gap between ideals and reality.

I have some non-negotiable values, including my own sense of fashion, unlike my job as a model, where you have to dress well. When I started, I didn’t have any job for two years and had a lot of time on my hands.

The fashion world has a reputation for being intimidating. Did you ever feel scared or unsure of yourself when you started?
I never thought it was out of reach. I feel privileged and motivated to work with professionals and those who are known as legends.

People describe you as an “It Girl.” What do you think makes an It Girl?
I’m no longer at an age where I can be called a “girl,” but I think an It Girl is someone who is always true to themselves and can express themselves well.

What makes you feel most like yourself?
When I wear the clothes I love and do the things I love.

You’ve spent most of your adult life in fashion. How do you think the fashion industry has changed since you first started?
The basics always stay the same, but the fashion becomes more relaxed, in a good way.

Japan has a long history of crafts. What do you think of this in Japanese fashion?
I am not a craftsman myself, but many foreign designers have told me how skilled Japanese craftsmen are. I feel proud to be Japanese, but at the same time I feel sad because we Japanese have less knowledge than international designers.

I believe that excellent craftsmen, both in Japan and abroad, should be well compensated for their skills and that traditional techniques should not be allowed to disappear.

What do you think is the best part about Japanese fashion? How does it differ from the Western fashion world?
Personally, I really like the Japanese hidden aesthetic. Abroad, the shapes are bolder or more revealing of the body’s curves.

You’ve walked a lot of runways. Do you have a favorite?
The Olympia Le-Tan show is by far my favorite runway show from Paris Fashion Week. Eight years ago, I was asked to model for a fashion show held by Olympia Le-Tan with the theme “Japanism.” I met Olympia a few years before that show, but apparently, she thought, “The model that embodies Japan is Kozue!”

I’m short, so I never thought I’d be able to walk to Paris Fashion Week. I was surprised, but it was a very happy, special experience. Olympia and I are still good friends.

Do you have any advice for someone trying this as a model?
We live in an age where it doesn’t just take a supermodel to be a model. Diversity is welcomed and many people have the opportunity to become models.

I’ve been to a lot of fashion shows, but the models that catch my eye are the ones who know who they are, are confident and powerful. It’s important to face your strengths and weaknesses, figure out how to express yourself, and understand yourself better than others.

Find Kozue Akimoto on Instagram: @akimoto_kozue

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