Grandma Tamayo’s dream – was to run her own architectural design business in Paris.

Living in Paris wasn’t new for Grandma Tamayo. After graduating from a university in Japan with a degree in architecture, she went abroad to study architecture at École des Beaux-Arts. I heard it was rare for a woman to enroll in the program at the time. She then joined an architectural design firm in Paris and married a French colleague – my grandad. When she was 30, she gave birth to a daughter – my mom – and around the time when Mom was turning 10, she got divorced. After sensing that her time in Paris had run its course, she returned to Japan with her daughter and took up a designer role at a major architectural design company in Tokyo. Having been working harder than men in a nearly all-male environment, Grandma Tamayo was absolutely determined. She would hang in there no matter what, at least until her daughter became a grown-up, she had promised herself.

Grandma Tamayo worked until the age of 60, then fully supported Mom in her parenting – raising me – after she retired. The 10 years that followed were invaluable for me as a child. They also served as preparation time for Grandma Tamayo to realize her dream.

I heard that Grandma Tamayo shared her plans with Mom on my fifth birthday.
“When Anju turns 10, I’d like to move to Paris and set up my own architectural design firm. Please keep that in mind from now on.”
Mom couldn’t hide her surprise but apparently agreed right away. Grandma Tamayo has always pushed through adversity, following the path she believes in. There’s no reason to stop her, Mom must’ve thought.

And so, Grandma Tamayo brilliantly turned her dream into reality. She now manages a team of young designers — three French and two Japanese — and continues to work in the front line of the industry, sometimes with the support of her team.

Inspired by Grandma Tamayo who accomplished her dream at the age of 70, I decided to work towards becoming an architectural designer myself. When I was at university, I got to do an internship at Grandma Tamayo’s atelier in Paris. It was during that time that I finally got to know why Grandma Tamayo continues to work as an architectural designer despite it being such a challenging job.

Grandma Tamayo’s architectural design firm is based in a 19th century building close to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Her desk was in the far corner of the atelier. On her desk, besides a photo of me and Mom, there was an old photo – perhaps a clipping from a magazine – of a woman’s back view, displayed in a frame. I was immediately drawn to the photo.

Perhaps it’s the Alps or somewhere, a summit with lingering snow. The woman with short hair stands wearing thick mountaineering trousers, holding what looks like snowshoes high up above her head with both hands. If that were all, everyone would think she was simply a female climber who had successfully reached the summit. But the woman in the photo was extraordinary – she was topless.

Her bare back is brimming with youthful strength in the clear winter mountain landscape. Did she throw off her thick snow jacket the moment she made it to the top because she was so proud of her achievement? But the pearl necklace around her neck is still in place. The pure white strand is adorning her slender neck, highlighting her fresh elegance. It was very, very beautiful.

I picked up the framed photo and stared at it for a while, captivated. Grandma Tamayo suddenly came next to me and gently held my shoulders.
“Do you know who this is?”
I shook my head. She might be famous, but I can’t tell from her back. Grandma Tamayo chuckled softly and whispered as if revealing her lover’s name, “It’s Charlotte Perriand.”
Charlotte Perriand. I knew her name, which sparkles like winter constellations. In fact, every architect, designer, and student of modern design should be familiar with her name.

Charlotte Perriand was a pioneering female architect and product designer whose talent was recognized by Le Corbusier, the greatest architect of the 20th century. Under his direction, she created many works that would go down in architectural design history. She came to Japan at a difficult time, just before the outbreak of the Pacific War, and taught furniture and interior design fused with traditional Japanese crafts and folk art. She was a creator with a special connection to Japan.