"Shrike" Drawing

Japanese-style painter (Nihonga artist).
Her work explores the theme of Yūgen — the subtle and profound beauty that lies at the heart of traditional Japanese arts such as Noh and tea ceremony — expressed through depictions of the human figure.

Born and raised in Hiroshima to Japanese parents, and being a second-generation atomic bomb survivor, she continues to live and work in Hiroshima. Her paintings reflect a search for identity and meaning rooted in this background, while seeking to carry forward the timeless aesthetic sensibility of Japan that has evolved through centuries of cultural tradition.

In portraying figures, she draws inspiration from classical Buddhist sculpture and traditional East Asian philosophy, which avoid overt emotional expression. The “expressionless face” in her work conveys emotion inwardly, inviting the viewer to project their own feelings and interpretations.

Her figures are always depicted wearing traditional kimono with authentic textile patterns. She regards the kimono as the most beautiful and natural form of expression for the Japanese spirit — an attire that evolved in harmony with the nation’s climate and way of life.

Technically, she emphasizes the beauty of line and uses traditional pigment preparation methods that were practiced before the Edo period, prior to the modernization of paint-making influenced by Western art. Through these methods, she seeks to revive the quiet depth and restrained beauty of classical Japanese painting.