In this piece, I revisited one of my earliest explorations of my original “Semi-Relief Color Technique” — Dear Deer — and reimagined it through my latest methods.
The deer has long been regarded as a sacred animal, often seen as a divine messenger. With its elegant antlers and graceful form, it embodies both strength and beauty. For 2025, my main body of work has centered on lotus, a motif that carries profound symbolism: purity, rebirth, and spirituality. The lotus is also deeply sensual, alluring, and visually striking. In this work, I merge the deer with the lotus — a natural harmony that resonates not only in symbolism but also in form and language.
Dear Deer 2025 is rendered in a refined, noble violet tone. In Japan, violet has been considered a sacred color since Prince Shōtoku’s establishment of the “Twelve-Level Cap and Rank System” in the 7th century, where it signified the highest rank. Over centuries, violet has remained a symbol of dignity, reverence, and longevity — an enduring mark of the sacred and the noble.
The convergence of violet, deer, and lotus reflects a sensibility deeply embedded in Japanese culture — a natural attraction to forms and symbols that carry both spiritual weight and aesthetic grace.
Dear Deer 2025 will be on view at my solo exhibition in Kobe from October 25 to November 2. I invite you to experience the work in person and feel its presence directly.
I recently delivered my artwork for an upcoming exhibition. I'm pleased to announce that I’ll be participating in the 8th Anniversary Exhibition of igu_m_art.
This commemorative exhibition, titled "[KO] anniversary vol.8 igu_m_art," is divided into three sessions, each showcasing works by a wide variety of artists. My work will be on display during the first session, from Friday, June 13 to Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
All artworks in this exhibition are standardized to size No. 10 (530mm × 455mm), making it easy to view and compare the pieces. With many artists taking part, you'll have the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of styles and expressions. I hope you’ll find a piece that resonates with you!
■ Exhibition Periods ■ ＝＝＝ My Exhibition Dates ＝＝＝ First Session: Friday, June 13 – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 ＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝ Second Session: Friday, June 20 – Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Final Session: Friday, June 27 – Tuesday, July 1, 2025
■ Opening Hours ■ 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM (until 5:00 PM on the final day of each session) Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays
I’m showcasing two pieces in this exhibition. I created works that blend the American-born Billiken with themes of Japanese culture, good fortune, and happiness.
One of my works is a playful pun—a canned artwork titled Hanayakan, which combines the word “hanayaka” (meaning “gorgeous” or “vibrant” in Japanese) with kan, meaning “can.”
Inside the can, I’ve depicted aquatic plants and lotuses—shown as if they’re being released from the can itself. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice the fine details, right down to the delicate water droplets.
I hope you’ll take this opportunity to see the work in person and experience its texture and presence firsthand.
BILLIKEN CREATORS COOL OSAKA 🗓 Dates: June 4 (Wed) – June 9 (Mon), 2025 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closes at 5:00 PM on the final day) 📍 Venue: Daimaru Umeda, 13th Floor Special Event Space 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8202, Japan
Participating in the igu_m_art_festival on Rokko Island, Kobe
From Friday, March 14th, to Sunday, March 16th, 2025, I had the pleasure of participating in the "igu_m_art_festival" held on Rokko Island in Kobe. The festival brought together 70 artists, each showcasing their unique creations.
With such a diverse group of participants, I was able to immerse myself in a wide array of artistic styles. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow artists, something I hadn't done on such a scale in quite some time.
For this exhibition, I decided to try something new with my display. Given the limited number of power outlets at the venue, I opted to use a portable power bank and a secondary display to show videos of my artwork.
Since still photographs often fail to fully capture the essence of my work, I create videos to provide a more comprehensive view. This event was the perfect chance to share those videos with a wider audience.
To house the display monitor, I used a woven trunk I had purchased in Bali. Its natural, organic texture complemented the surrounding artwork beautifully, I felt. ^_^
Although the art festival was a brief three-day event, I made sure to capture the atmosphere using various cameras.
I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the exhibition.
Event Details:
* Event: igu_m_art_festival - Bringing Art Closer to You ♪
