ave you ever been to Australia? Have you then noticed that the sky is not always blue and that the Opera House isn't the best part of Sydney? It is not the koalas or the Olympics which make Australia such a wonderful country. What makes Australia the best place in the world is the diversity of the people who live here.

he 2000 Sydney Olympics will bring attention to Australia, and via the media, many people around the world will find out a bit more about us Down Under. Yet I worry that people will end up seeing stereotype images of Australia, created by editorial photographers like me.

o I have put together a photographic exhibition showing the diversity of the people here. There are indigenous Australians, Japanese migrants, a transgender, middle aged hippies, and many others, who all belong to subcultures.

ugao no Australia (Austalia without Make-up) is a black and white documentary of images taken in the state of New South Wales between 1995 - 2000.

he exhibition was held at Konica Plaza (Shinjuku Takano Building 4th Floor, 3-26-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku) from 20 to 30 May 2000.