Tomokazu Matsuyama is a New York-based contemporary artist active on the global stage. He moved to New York after graduating from Sophia University’s Department of Management in the Faculty of Eco-nomics. This spring, 25 years later, he returned to Japan for his first major solo exhibition in Japan, Tomo-kazu Matsuyama: FIRST LAST. We spoke with him about the inspiration behind the exhibition and how his artistic philosophy was shaped over 25 arduous years in New York.a quarter-century later, I’m finally able to hold a large exhibition here in Japan. All of these feelings are reflected in the title.”After a Setback, a Hopeful Move to AmericaMatsuyama returned to America at the age of 25, a country where he spent part of his childhood. During his time as a student at Sophia, he was active as a semi-professional snowboarder, but a serious injury he suffered after graduation dashed his hopes of competing professionally.“Back then, snowboarding allowed me a means of self-expression. When that was taken away from me, I thought I had to find a different way to express myself. I decided to study design in the United States and enrolled in an art school in New York.”While studying design, however, a sense of unease was growing inside him.“Design isn’t about pure self-expression — it’s about solving prob-lems for clients. I was frustrated that I had no say over the final out-come. I realized that only fine art could allow me to truly express myself, but I wasn’t driven by any urge to become a painter. I didn’t yet know what I wanted to do — but I was certain about what I couldn’t continue doing. When I asked myself how to pursue my 10 SOPHIA MAGAZINE Vol. 20You, One Me Erase (2023) H274.3 x W660.4cmUnveiling the Meaning Behind “FIRST LAST”Tomokazu Matsuyama: FIRST LAST was held from March to May 2025 at Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills Gallery. Matsuyama ex-plained that he wanted the title to meaningfully reflect his quar-ter-century of experiences.“FIRST LAST carries two meanings for me,” he said. “One re-fers to the Christian teachings I received as a child from my fa-ther — he was a pastor — and Christianity remains a core part of my identity. The other reflects my intention to expand my activi-ties based in Western countries, so this may be both my first and last large-scale exhibition in Japan. However, it’s not necessarily ‘the end.’ I wanted the title to strike a hopeful, forward-looking note –– something that would foreshadow what is yet to come.”Matsuyama’s choice of the expression “FIRST LAST” was also purposeful –– consciously referencing the gospel of Matthew, chapter 20, verses 16: “The Last Will Be First, and the First Will Be Last.”“The 25 years I spent in New York were very intense. The whole time, the only thing I could hold onto was my belief in art. What kept me going was the mindset that recognition wasn’t the goal — I was committed to creating regardless of the outcome. Now,
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