An art project by Y's and photographer Roland Kirishima will be held at the East Park on the 4th floor of Isetan Shinjuku from March 6th.

To commemorate the 41st anniversary of Y's this year, Kirishima has photographed 41 working women of various ages and occupations wearing Y's. Portraits will appear on a rotating weekly basis, including actresses Mari Natsuki, Ai Hashimoto, and Hisako Manda, Nippon Television anchor Chiaki Horan, figure skater Fumie Murase, Ellie from Chim↑Pom, musicians Maria Schneider and Kaoru Namba, and athlete Maki Sato.

Regarding the concept, Kirishima said, "When Y's debuted 40 years ago, Japanese women had yet to establish a strong social status. I think women today have changed a lot compared to 40 years ago. They've demonstrated talent in a variety of fields, have discovered fashion, and have become incredibly stylish. It's like they're 'casually dressing up.' As a sign of respect for these working women, I asked all of them to 'spread their wings.'"

In the work, each subject is wearing Y's and jumping around in their own way. "This jump is like jumping over a puddle. I love the dynamic photographs of women taken by photographer Martin Munkacsi in the 1930s with a 35mm camera, and it's also an homage to him. I like the sense of speed that 35mm gives you. I used a 35mm digital camera for this project as well. When they jump, you can capture unexpected expressions, which I enjoy. I'm a little scared of getting hurt during the shoot, though (laughs)."

Many of the models are actresses, artists, and food experts in creative fields. When asked about people she would like to photograph in the future, she said, "I'd also like to photograph politicians, tax accountants, and female Self-Defense Force members. Y's suits a variety of women. Coincidentally, many of the people I asked this time wear Y's on a daily basis. I think the person I would most like to photograph is comedian Ayako Imoto, as my daughter is a fan (laughs)."

The exhibition will run for a year, continuing into the 2013-14 Autumn/Winter season. The 41st person will be a member of the general public who will be invited to participate in a photo session.