Born in Shizuoka, Japan, Okudaira grew up in the midst of the hairdressing world. Both his parents were hairdressers, which led to him following the same path, “without hesitation”. Like many Japanese hair creatives, Okudaira is trained in all aspects of hair and make-up, accounting for the rounded set of skills in his repertoire. He attains that it is only because of his solid foundation in all elements of beauty that he is now able to work with even the most unusual materials confidently and conceptually. “This is a job that requires skill as well as artistic vision, so I think the most important thing is to learn your techniques properly” he says. “Once you have mastered the skills, then you can try to be original and find your own way and ideas.” We take a look at some of Okudaira’s quirkiest creations.