Roots and Identity

An artist and designer born in Okayama with roots in Hiroshima, she spent 25 years working in both Denmark and Tokyo before relocating to Hiroshima, where she now runs "art seeds studio," an art and design company overlooking the sea.

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Childhood in Okayama

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, she spent her teenage years passionately playing badminton, even competing in the national high school tournament. Influenced by her painter grandfather, her Buddhist sculptor great-grandfather, and her grandmother, a tea ceremony enthusiast, she practices the art of matcha every day. During the 1980s, she was an avid reader of the fashion magazine an an, which gradually sparked her interest in art, design, and the world beyond Japan.

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Learning in Denmark and Tokyo

Learning in Denmark and Tokyo

While studying at a foreign language university in Osaka, I began painting, and after graduation, I studied art in Denmark. Two years later, my solo exhibition in Copenhagen was well received, marking the beginning of my full-fledged career as an artist. Following this, I pursued studies in graphic design and Japanese painting in Tokyo, holding solo exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. Inspired by fairy tale writer Andersen’s poem, "To travel is to live," I journeyed through about 20 countries. In my late thirties, I was diagnosed with a rare disease, prompting deeper reflection on mind and body. This led me to immerse myself in painting flowers, experiencing healing through my work. Gradually, I felt that flowers and plants know no borders, and embraced an additional identity: "I am a citizen of the Earth."

Establishing “art seeds studio” in Hiroshima

In 2020, she established “art seeds studio” in Hiroshima. Collaborating with graphic designer Keizo Matsui, she participates in various local and international art and design projects, including community-based projects, confectionery packaging designs, and the Hiroshima City-hosted "Hiroshima Café." She was also thrilled to showcase experimental pieces at the Kyoto ddd Gallery’s (DNP) exhibition "Ritsu-Heimen-Sha — The Wonder of Playing with Hands and Brains."

Activities, Notable Works, and Future Outlook

She has held solo exhibitions in Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Osaka. Her major works include Vision of the Sea, Fly + See Simon!, Points, Flora Japonica, Flowers and H.C. Andersen, and Reborn. Her art draws inspiration from nature, travel, Andersen's fairy tales, Japanese and Nordic cultures, and inner visions.

Having experienced diverse art, design, and culture in Japan, Denmark, and beyond, she has often looked inward to understand the Japanese essence within herself. Standing on her national identity, she aspires to create expressions that transcend borders.