Please Let Me Sit Quietly Beside Your Solitude

You, you there—aren’t you just a little bit tired? No, please, there is no need to hide it from me. When I look into those clear eyes of yours, which seem to hold a depth of sorrow beneath their surface, I understand everything. You, why do you persist in exhausting yourself so thoroughly for the sake of others? You are far more precious, more beautiful, and more hopelessly solitary than you could ever imagine. That is why I, the painter Takamizawa Mimi, have come to you today. I wish to share a secret, just between us.

If you would permit me, I shall sit right here beside you. I will pull up a chair—just a little closer. Ah, what a wonderful scent. It is the fragrant aroma of the time you have spent living, the scent of your earnest efforts. You, how many rough storms have you weathered until now? How many nights have you let your unspoken tears soak into your pillow? I respect you from the very bottom of my heart. You are like a treasure in this world. Please, do not belittle yourself. By simply being there, you are warming someone else’s heart.

I am, you see, a person who paints. But I am no ordinary painter. I am a “physician of the soul,” a reckless adventurer who longs to examine the wounds of your spirit and gently wrap them in bandages of brilliant color. Artists, as a breed, are all a bit mad, aren’t they? You must have sensed this. We carve up our own bodies, turn our blood into pigment, and offer it to you—our precious viewer. We are foolish victims, sacrificial lambs. Yet, I believe with all my heart that this sacrifice is the only key that can save the world.

You, please close your eyes for a moment. Do you see a faint light in the darkness? That is the radiance of your soul. I want to scoop up that light onto a digital canvas and give it an eternal form. You are the only one of your kind in this vast universe, an irreplaceable existence. Please, let my words reach the softest part of your heart. This is a love letter, written with my very life, dedicated to you.

The Foolish and Beloved Adventurers Known as Artists

You, don’t you find it strange? Why do artists always choose such agonizing paths? There must be plenty of ways to live more easily, more smartly. But you see, you, truly valuable things can never be obtained unless one pays the price with their own life, placing themselves in the most difficult and dangerous of positions. A person who does not allow themselves to suffer has no right to speak of true beauty.

Once, under the sun of Southern France, there was a man who painted sunflowers as if possessed. Yes, Vincent van Gogh—that clumsy, lovable man. I became a painter because I felt an uncontrollable empathy for his life. You, he sold only one painting in his lifetime; he was understood by no one and ended his days in solitude and poverty. He died truly as a victim. But look at the world now. His paintings have risen vividly from the abyss of death, gaining eternal life and saving the souls of millions who suffer in loneliness.

He is the one who saved me. And he is the one saving you, as we speak like this. An artist dies once and is resurrected within their work. A resurrected soul never dies again. Solitude, isolation, and the kind of pain that feels like cutting into one’s own flesh—it is only by passing through these that one finally attains “liberation.” Any work of art that does not symbolize these things is, in my opinion, nothing more than a cheap trinket. It is meaningless. You, I do not wish to deceive you with such shallow things.

You, try to remember. Those nights when no one understood you, when you were shivering alone. What was beside you then? Was it music? A book? Or was it a single painting? Art is like a lifebuoy thrown by a lonely person toward you, who are also lonely. I want to keep knitting that lifebuoy for you. Even if my hands become stained with blood, I will keep throwing it, again and again, so that you do not drown.

The Miracle Where Your Eyes and My Eyes Meet

By the way, you. Have you ever had the chance to look at my work? My compositions, you see, are filled with countless “eyes.” Please, do not call it eerie. Those “eyes” are the only window—the most honest window—that connects me to you.

Why did I choose the eye, this sensory organ, as my motif? It is because, you, the eye expresses everything about a human being. The mouth tells lies. Words can be decorated. But the eyes, with a cruelty that is almost divine, expose the truth of the soul. Your joy, your jealousy, the loneliness you wish to hide—all of it twinkles like stars within those pupils.

“Your Eyes, My Eyes.” This is the central theme of my creation. The countless eyes within my paintings are watching you. At the same time, when you look at my art, you are peering back into the depths of my soul. This is a form of dialogue. It is a secret confession between you and me, undisturbed by anyone, in a private room of the spirit.

You, are you looking into my eyes right now? My eyes do not laugh at your solitude. They do not blame you for your failures. They simply gaze at you, affirming your very existence and embracing you. In that split second when eyes meet, in that spark, there lies a salvation that transcends logic. On nights when you feel that no one understands you, the eyes I have painted will whisper to you without a sound: “It’s alright. I am here.”

You, do you like your own eyes? What do you think when you look in the mirror? If you dislike your own gaze, please look at my paintings. The eyes I draw will take the place of yours. They will weep for you, be angry for you, and gaze at the future in your stead. Within the tiny universe of the eye, all of human history and the future are contained. I wish to spend my entire life diving into that abyss.

Imprinting the Eternal Gospel with a Digital Brush

You might be surprised, you, but I do not use canvas or brushes. I believe that in this day and age, there should be new forms of expression. I create shapes within the infinite sea of the digital realm and fix them onto the highest quality printmaking paper using an advanced technique called giclée. If someone considers this “cutting corners,” they simply do not yet know what true creation is.

To draw digitally is a task of capturing the vibrations of the soul directly, with one hundred percent purity, and converting them into light. Every stroke, every blend of color is controlled by my will. And then, printing it onto the finest paper—this act of printing is, for me, a ritual of “resurrection.” Data made of light, which has no physical substance, takes up residence in the paper as a material object. There is a solemn miracle there, like a human being with a physical body transforming into an eternal spiritual entity.

I immerse myself in this digital work, wearing down my very life. With eyes that feel as though they might bleed, I place light stroke by stroke. Why do I go so far? It is because I want to provide you with the highest level of service. I pay the price with my own pocket, my own time, pushing my spirit to its absolute limit. If I did not, I could never hope to touch a soul as noble as yours.

The colors engraved on this premium paper will not fade for hundreds of years. Long after I have left this world, my eyes will continue to stand by the solitude of your grandchildren, and their grandchildren after them. This is what I consider “resurrection” and “eternal life.” You are the one person in the world, so very precious, who receives this life-risking gift of mine.

You, imagine it. A person 100 years from now, whom I have not yet met, standing before my painting. At that moment, they will find the same light that is in your eyes. Even if the era changes, even if technology changes, the loneliness in the human heart does not change. That is why I continue to pursue a beauty that does not wither. Pouring an ancient soul into a new vessel of digital light—that is my vow to you.

Success Exists Only in the Act of Giving

You, please let me whisper my favorite words into your beautiful ear. These are the words of Henry Ford, a man called the King of Automobiles, and they contain a truth that is both wonderful and piercing: “Most people think of success as something to get. But the truth is, success is giving.”

Ah, what a truth that is! What comes to your heart when you hear these words? Most people in the world are constantly bustling about, thinking only of how to take from others or how to benefit themselves alone. But you see, you. Things acquired in that way are as fragile as sandcastles. When you pass through the gates of death, you can take nothing with you.

A truly great person, a truly successful person, is the one who has served others the most, the one who has given the most to others. As a painter, I want to give everything to you. My time, my talent, my suffering—I want to filter it all and drop it into your heart as a single, beautiful droplet. This is what I call my “desperate service.”

Once, there was a famous writer. He called out “You, You” over and over again, trying to leap into the hearts of his readers. He seemed to be playing the fool, but behind that mask, he was thinking only of how to soothe your worries, even as he coughed up blood. He tried to take on the “shame” and “suffering” of your heart by sacrificing himself. Without using the word for a higher power, he expressed love for his neighbor through a style of writing that wore down his very being.

I wish to inherit that spirit. The reason I am speaking to you now, as if I were sitting right next to you, is entirely an act of extreme service to your existence. You, do you feel your heart becoming even a little bit lighter by looking at my paintings and reading my words? If even a flicker of a smile appears on your lips for a moment, then this life-shaving adventure of mine is a grand success.

You, how much love have you given to someone until now? There must have been love that was not returned, and kindness that was trampled upon. But please, rest easy. The things you have given will never disappear. It is like storing up treasures in heaven. The “price” you paid for someone else will eventually circle back and return to you as a light to save you, through a painter like me. I believe in this beautiful circulation.

The Story Called History, the Miracle Called You

You, history is not made by the victors. The true history is the accumulation of time spent by nameless, lonely people like you, living with all their might. I want to be a part of that history. I want my paintings to sit quietly in a corner of the wonderful story that is your life.

Leonardo da Vinci and Vermeer—they were all lonely. What do you think they were thinking as they sat on the cold floors of their studios? Perhaps it was about meeting you in the future. The brushstrokes they left by risking their lives have jumped across hundreds of years and are now speaking directly to your heart: “You, you are not alone. I suffered in the same way.”

I am the same. The reason I face the screen for twelve hours a day, my shoulders trembling, is because I firmly, firmly believe in the moment when the future you will touch my art. This might be a kind of madness. But you see, you, art without madness is just a boring calculation. I want to jump out of the cage of common sense and surprise you, delight you, and above all, praise you with an extraordinary passion.

You are truly wonderful. The fact that you have survived until today is the greatest miracle of all. You have accomplished a task more noble than any Great Man: the task of “continuing to be yourself,” which is the most difficult battle in this world. I offer my heartfelt applause to that battle. Bravo, you! After all, I am your number one fan.

You, please praise yourself more. Please pamper yourself more. If you are happy, my paintings will shine even brighter. Your joy is the fountain of my creation. If you laugh, the “eyes” I draw will laugh with you.

Until the Day Your Light Illuminates the World

Well, you. It may be time for us to part. But please, do not be sad. I am always right beside you. When you close your eyes, the countless pupils I have drawn will become a lamp to light your darkness. When you are betrayed by someone and feel you are all alone in the world, please remember my paintings. There, you will find “my eyes,” which understand all your suffering, weep with you, and wait with you for rebirth.

Do not be afraid to let yourself suffer. That suffering is proof that you are the real thing. You are trying to love someone even at the cost of your own sacrifice. That image of you is more beautiful than any masterpiece. You are the greatest person in this world. Because you are still here, living with all your might, trying to give something to someone.

An artist like me will be hurt in your place, carry the cross in your stead, and run through the fields of beauty. And from there, I will bring back a bouquet of flowers and offer it to you. You only need to receive it and smile. That is my greatest reward and my salvation.

Finally, please let me gaze into your eyes just once more. Ah, what deep, beautiful eyes they are—eyes that one could be pulled into. You are hope itself. You are the future itself. The fact that you are standing tall in this cruel world—that fact alone saves me.

You, you are light. Even if you think of yourself as darkness right now, I know the truth. From now on, you will shine more and more, illuminating the people around you. My paintings are a mirror to hold that radiance forever.

You are never alone. Your solitude, your loneliness, your sadness—I will take it all onto my canvas. You, please just keep living as yourself, with pride. I am forever on your side, together with my work.

Let’s meet again. Someday, in an exhibition room, or perhaps within your dreams. I am truly looking forward to the moment when my eyes and your eyes meet once more. You are the best. Please take care of yourself and, I beg you, be happy. This is the one and only eternal promise between you and me.

Goodbye, my beloved, my irreplaceable, you. I will continue to pray here that your story continues beautifully tomorrow as well. You, you, you. My love will be by your side forever.

I’ll give you a free postcard.

By entering your name, address, and email address, you can receive free postcards of my artwork.

I will select the design from a number of artworks and mail ten postcards to your home.

If you visit our website, I will give you a free postcard.

Thank you for visiting.

I have a firm belief that evaluating paintings and works of art is not something as vague as liking or disliking them.

I reject the simplistic idea that “ultimately, evaluating paintings and works of art is a matter of liking or disliking them.” I believe that most contemporary works of art, which are often discussed in terms of likes and dislikes, are not at a level that can convince viewers, and therefore cannot be judged as superior; they are merely being glossed over.

Most humans possess a universal sense of aesthetics, the ability to make value judgments about what is superior and what is inferior. If humanity lacked a common ability to judge good and bad, all art education would be meaningless. The purpose of art education for aspiring artists in childhood and adolescence is to acquire the skills to captivate people’s eyes and feet. These skills must be taught through logic, theory, and reasoning. Art education is possible and beneficial because the human brain is almost identical to that of people of all time and places. Conversely, even in education for appreciating art, educators must be able to explain, through reasoning, why each work is a masterpiece, rather than resorting to likes and dislikes. Art education should be a kind of psychology for understanding the human brain.

Even today, I believe that only a handful of works are masterpieces that will endure for posterity. However, we must understand that works discussed in terms of likes and dislikes receive negative evaluations from viewers. Likes and dislikes are not YES, but NO. Writers, works, and industries that are only discussed in terms of likes and dislikes are doomed to disappear. Ultimately, works that fail to satisfy viewers are poorly made. Works that are difficult to understand are, I believe, failures. Only works that 99 out of 100 people find good can be considered masterpieces. Writers must satisfy 100 out of 100 people. With the naive idea that it’s enough if just one person in the world appreciates it, or if only I, the author, am satisfied, you will never be able to create a great masterpiece. Only by striving to captivate the eyes and feet of everyone can you gain that one irreplaceable fan. When other writers gain attention or other writers’ works sell, it means that your own work has not been accepted by others.

Everything is a competition, and if you cannot offer something superior to your peers, you will have to go out of business, no matter what profession you are in. Ultimately, the highest quality works overwhelm the viewer and captivate their eyes and feet. When I saw Van Gogh’s “Café Terrace at Night,” I was so impressed by the brilliance of its universal composition that I stood in front of the painting for four hours. I found it difficult to leave and couldn’t move. The composition of “Café Terrace at Night” is similar to that of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” Velázquez’s “Las Meninas,” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” I’ve explained my particular interest in composition elsewhere. There were many other works by Van Gogh on display at that exhibition, but none of them were particularly outstanding. Only “Café Terrace at Night” is a tremendous masterpiece in the history of humankind, and I believe that it was by painting that ultimate work that Vincent van Gogh was recognized as a great painter who would go down in history.

Thank you very much for viewing my work.

I am truly grateful that you have visited my website. There are so many other wonderful products and services out there, and I appreciate you taking the time to visit my website.

Is there anything I can contribute to your life?

Is there anything you need help with?

I would love to contribute to your life and work with my paintings and designs.

I would love to be of help to you.

Currently, my main products are prints. I create digital images and print them on printing paper using a technique called giclee.

I frame these prints and send them to people to display, adding comfort, peace of mind, and excitement to their daily lives.

All items are created with great care and delivered to you.

Because they are prints, multiple copies of the same work will be available in the market, but they are all limited editions.

The reason we limit the number of copies is because we have promised you that we will not issue too many copies and cause the price to drop.

We will always keep our promises.

Please rest assured that the images of my work on the internet have been carefully crafted so that it is impossible to print the same item as the actual item.

After you place your order, it may take a few days for your order to be shipped.

This is because we want to deliver your order in as perfect a condition as possible, to your satisfaction.

I am a self-taught painter born in 1995. The themes of my work are eyes, history, eternity, and religion.

I hope you will take the time to enjoy my work.

This site is Mimi Takamizawa’s official homepage.

I create paintings and sell them online.

Please contact us at this email address

corotakamizawa@gmail.com

I will contribute to you with my paintings.

Why not enjoy decorating your room with paintings?

Decorating your room with paintings will give you a sense of elegance on a daily basis.

If you decorate an empty wall in your room with a framed painting, it will make the room look more gorgeous.

I would like to contribute to your wonderful daily life with my paintings.

Even if you are going through difficult or sad times, looking at a painting can help heal your heart.

Paintings should not only be enjoyed in museums, but should be enjoyed on a daily basis in your own home.

Doing so will help reduce your depressing worries and anxieties, improving the quality of your life.

I believe that painting can help you live a wonderful life.

I am a painter called Takamizawa Mimi.

My name is Mimi Takamizawa and I am a self-taught artist.

I hope to bring some joy, joy and inspiration to your daily life through my paintings.

The themes of my work are eternity, history, eyes, gaze and religion.

Eyes are very emotional and speak more eloquent than words.

Perhaps everything you come into contact with in your daily life has eyes that are watching you.

My current works are created on a digital screen and then printed on paper after completion.

I use a printing method called giclee printing, which uses pigments and is very durable.

Shop List

My work can be purchased from the following website

Born on September 5, 1995, from Saitama Prefecture, Japan

My Themes in Art

As I mentioned earlier, the core of my work is based on four pillars: “eyes,” “history,” “religion,” and “eternity.” These are intricately intertwined and sublimated into a single image, inviting viewers on a spiritual journey that transcends time and space.

For those encountering my work for the first time, I would like to explain why I continue to depict these themes.

“The Eye”

The Protagonist of the Body and the Abyss of Emotion When you open my work, the first thing that will catch your eye is the countless “eye” motifs scattered throughout the canvas.

I am convinced that in the human body, the eyes are not merely visual organs, but the “protagonist” in which the soul of the person resides. There is a saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul,” and it is true. Anger, regret, joy, boredom, and unspeakable sadness—all these nuances are vividly revealed in the sharpness and moisture of the gaze, and the flickering of the pupils.

When we confront another person, isn’t it their “eyes” that we first confirm and remember until the very end?

Even the purest expression of emotion, tears, overflows from the eyes. Thus, there is a profound meaning in making “eyes,” an extremely important part that determines the impression of a person, ubiquitous in my work.

They blur the boundary between “the one who looks” and “the one who is looked at,” and play the role of a mirror that reveals the inner world of the viewer themselves.

History and Religion

The Key to Unraveling the Immutability of Human Psychology I have no interest in fleeting trends or disposable aesthetics.

What fascinates me is “eternal value” that remains undiminished even after thousands of years. To find the answer to this, I have made the study of history and religion my life’s work.

When I delve into history and engage with religious thought, I am confronted with a surprising fact: the psychological structures of suffering, hope, love and hate that people had a thousand or two thousand years ago are surprisingly similar to those of us living today.

Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Shinto—all of these are collections of profound psychological studies on how humans live and how they interpret the world. My style of expression is connected to the lineage of masters of Western art.Leonardo da Vinci’s composition and mysticism , Michelangelo’s dynamism of spirit residing in the body, Raphael’s harmonious and sublime beauty—the influence I have received from them breathes in every aspect of my brushwork.

However, at the same time, I also have a deep respect for the aesthetics of the East and the Middle East. In particular, the intricate decorative designs found in Islamic art, such as those in mosques, represent to me the pinnacle of beauty.

I feel that this geometric and uncompromising accumulation expresses the truth of the universe and the omnipresence of divinity.

The Sublimity of Eternity

Refinement Through Trial and Error There is an overwhelming persuasive power in itself when something has “lasted a long time.” Cultures and styles that have been loved, protected, and survived for centuries embody the “ultimate refinement” honed through countless trials and errors.

I am drawn to “eternity” because it is a torrent of immense energy that transcends the short timeframe of a human life. Fixing an unchanging aesthetic sense from ancient times onto the canvas is nothing less than dropping a firm “anchor” in this drifting age of the modern era.

The artists who have influenced my style all possess their own unique “repetition” and “structure.” Yayoi Kusama: Self-annihilation and cosmic expanse created by the repetition of the polka dot motif. Antoni Gaudí: The passion to translate the laws of nature into architecture and approach the creation of God.

Kano Sansetsu: Although a painter of the Edo period, he possessed a compositional power that contained overwhelming serenity and stylistic beauty within distorted and eccentric compositions.

I superimpose the attitude towards expression that these predecessors demonstrated, which could be called “obsession,” onto my own depiction of “eyes” and meticulous composition. When you stand before my paintings, please try to have a dialogue with the countless eyes.

The meticulously drawn details, like Islamic tiles or Renaissance altarpieces, will separate you from everyday life and invite you into a time of serene contemplation. I hope that my works will not be mere ornaments, but sanctuaries for reconsidering “what it means to be human” and “what is unchanging beauty.”

Self-introduction

From an early age, I had a deep interest in artists. Over the course of the long history of mankind, whether famous or not, they have overcome many hardships in life and continued to create many great works in various fields such as painting, sculpture, design, literature, and music. have left Every time I see the works of such great people, I want to walk through that kind of life. thinking about.

If you were born into this world, isn’t it human nature to want to leave this world and leave something behind in the history of this world and humankind?

Human beings have what it takes to leave their own descendants, ideas that influence future generations, courageous personalities that inspire people, kind behavior that makes this world a little more pleasant, businesses and inventions that enrich many people.

I think that you can deeply realize that there was value that was born by leaving something behind.

Ever since I was a child, I have loved　drawing.

In my teens, I was influenced by various painters and started producing works on my own.

I would be happy if there were people who saw my work and felt something or enjoyed it even a little.

Born on September 5, 1995, from Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Who influenced me

Van Gogh, Monet, Velázquez, Vermeer, Cézanne, Warhol, Picasso, Tsuguharu Foujita, Yayoi Kusama, Shuji Terayama, Osamu Dazai, Basho Matsuo, Naomi Uemura, Ichizo Kobayashi, Taizo Ishida, Takeo Fujisawa, Sakichi Toyoda, Hokusai Katsushika, Ray Kroc, Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Toshifumi Suzuki, and Tokuji Munetsugu.

What is Giclee Printing?

Giclée printing is a high-quality art printing technique. It is a method of printing digital images in high resolution using an inkjet printer. Giclée printing is particularly suitable for reproducing artworks and photographs, and is characterized by extremely high color reproduction.

Giclee printing typically uses arch files (durable paper or canvas) and lightfast inks to create prints that will not fade over time, which is why it is often used by artists and photographers to sell their work.

It has better light resistance than lithography and silkscreen reproduction methods, and the colors have a proven high light resistance of 150 to 250 years.

My biggest concern in my work

The thing I’m most particular about in my work is the composition of the image. I believe that all great two-dimensional artworks in the world, including paintings, photographs, films, animation, and manga, share a common composition.

Regardless of the content or color used, many of the greatest works of art in history share the same composition. Velázquez’s “Las Meninas,” Van Gogh’s “Café Terrace at Night,” Vermeer’s “The Art of Painting,” and Katsushika Hokusai’s “Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa” all share the same composition, making them almost like siblings.

Despite being created in different locations, by different artists, and in different eras, these works share the same approach to composition. Conversely, they are completely different paintings apart from their composition, and I believe that more than 95 percent of the quality of a two-dimensional artwork lies in its composition.

What is generally thought of as Van Gogh’s greatness as a painter is the beauty of his colors, his unique touch, and his thick paintwork, but I don’t think these are the essence of his skill as a painter.

The core of Van Gogh’s work is his perfect composition, which he likely learned through his study of Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Hokusai and Hiroshige’s masterpieces use Western-style compositions that had not existed in Japanese painting up until that point. Hokusai and Hiroshige learned Western composition from Dutch studies, which were popular in Japan at the time.

The perfect compositions of Velázquez and Vermeer were passed on to Van Gogh through Hokusai and Hiroshige.

The works of Japan’s leading film directors, Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu, have received such acclaim overseas, likely due to their stunning composition. Ozu’s meticulous attention to composition is well-known, and the influence of his beloved ukiyo-e art is evident.

While films from his heyday, such as Seven Samurai and Ikiru, are exemplary of perfect composition, the poor quality of his later color films likely reflects Kurosawa’s focus on superficial advances in film technology, which led to a decline in his commitment to composition.

While using the best technology available at the time is natural, what’s important is the approach to composition, which is timeless. While superficial technology may continue to improve in the present and future, most contemporary paintings will never be able to surpass the works of Velázquez or Hokusai.

The human eye and the human brain have not changed over the years, so the standards for determining the quality of flat still images, landscapes, and videos remain the same.

The core of the technology for not boring the human gaze is composition and gradation. A great work of art is one that can captivate the human eye.

You can look at it for hours without getting bored. No matter how many times you look at it, you are captivated.

You want to look at it again tomorrow, whether you saw it yesterday, today, or tomorrow.

On the other hand, I don’t think you can stare at many boring works of art for 10 seconds. Poor composition fails to satisfy the human brain.

I believe that the invention of photography, which alarmed artists, led them to mistakenly abandon timeless compositions, has led to the decline of painting today and the mass production of inferior works that are unpopular with many.

The problem faced by artists when photography first emerged was that they became focused on accurately capturing the subject in front of them, like in the photographs used in illustrated books, and forgot the essential quality of composition.

The precise capture required for an illustrated book or photograph is different from the technique of good painting.

Many critics of Velázquez’s Las Meninas praise its elegant brushwork, but its true essence lies elsewhere.

The painting’s masterful qualities lie in the canvas, which creates the foreground, the human figure superimposed in the middle, which creates a sense of distance, and the strong contrast created by the door and the king in the background.

The composition used in this painting is the same as Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

The large waves are the same as the canvas in the foreground, and a strong contrast is used between the king, the door, and Mount Fuji in the background.

Focusing on the rough brushstrokes and thick paintwork of Van Gogh’s works is an insult to his work.

Even if you print “Café Terrace at Night” on a poster, which does not convey the materiality of the thick paintwork, it still feels wonderful because of its excellent composition.

The blue window frame at the very front of the cafe terrace emphasizes the foreground of the picture.

The strong contrast of yellow and black in the background draws the eye to the background.

There is also a strong contrast in the foreground, creating a composition in which the foreground and background draw the eye to each other.

The fact that composition has such a major impact on the quality of a two-dimensional work is evidenced, I believe, by the rise of film, manga, and animation, which continue to use compositions that many painters have abandoned.

My works are available for purchase on several internet sites. They are all limited edition pieces with limited quantities.

If you have any questions, please contact us at the email address below.

corotakamizawa@gmail.com

About my work

My work has emerged from within my own mind during my training. It is for this reason that it is completely different from the work of my contemporaries.

It is directly connected to my life and my life. Naturally, I was a boy who drew pictures and made things as a child. Later, I spent much of my time studying art as a student.

I wasn’t a good student, so rather than learning directly from school, I trusted my own interests and was directly influenced by the work of great artists of the past. In that sense, I am a completely self-taught artist.

As an adult, I took a year off from painting and art, but I returned to the art world. I realized that I don’t even have the ability to create good paintings, and that doing anything else would be a waste of time.

I don’t know how many more years I have. I’m 99.9% certain that my current skills won’t allow me to create works that will go down in history. I am fully aware that I am a third-rate, incompetent artist.

However, realizing in my teens and twenties that I didn’t have much talent was the greatest blessing of my life. I believe life is like the tortoise and the hare.

I intend to devote all my time to art, aiming to elevate myself from a third-rate painter to at least a second-rate one by the time I die.

My works are a condensed version of the wisdom, knowledge, and techniques I’ve learned over the past 30 years.

My techniques are still immature, and my works are by no means complete, but I spend every hour except for sleep working, striving to approach the works of my respected artists, such as Van Gogh, Velázquez, Vermeer, and Katsushika Hokusai. In fact, even my dreams about painting are about painting.

It’s difficult to devote all my time to one thing, but even when I need to be doing other things, I find myself thinking about masterpieces from the past.

Because everything created by humans that we see before our eyes was conceived in someone’s mind, I believe it’s important above all else to constantly think and to exert my hands and body.

Painters and other trades are all the same

The job of a painter is exactly the same as any other job or business in the world. I believe that it is those who work repeatedly every day, with no play or rest, and who have been dedicated to their work for many years, who are able to produce the best products, goods, and artworks.

Humans cannot maintain perfect concentration all the time, so it’s important to know how much time you can devote to it each day. It’s difficult, but if you can keep doing it seven days a week without a single day off for decades, and gradually improve and make progress, I believe you can produce amazing work.

Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company

“Most people think success is something you acquire. But in reality, success is something you give.”

“Employers don’t pay wages. Employers just handle money. Customers pay wages.”

“It takes time for effort to show results. Many people get bored, lost, and discouraged before then.”

Ichizo Kobayashi, founder of Hankyu Group

“Young people, be independent. Don’t aspire to be big companies. There are plenty of businesses. There are jobs everywhere.”

“To win in life, above all you need is a winning mindset. If others work eight hours, you need the determination to work fifteen hours. If others are eating good food, you need the courage to refrain from eating good food yourself.”

Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

“Success is the ability to keep going even after repeated failures.”

“We make a living by getting, and we make a living by giving.”

“Success is neither the end nor the end. The important thing is the courage to keep going.”

“Never give in. Never, never, never!”

“It is not strength or intelligence, but steady effort that unlocks your potential.”

Suntory Founder: Shinjiro Torii

“I’ve been struggling with alcohol for over 60 years. No matter how stupid you are, after 60 years you’ll understand things. And money is a little bit much.”

Shinjiro Torii (1879-1962)

Quoted from Wikipedia

McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc

“There is nothing more valuable in this world than persistence. Talent is different. There are many talented people who fail. Genius is different. There are so many underprivileged geniuses in this world that it has become a proverb. Education is also different. The world is full of educated dropouts. Only faith and persistence are omnipotent.”

“Be daring，Be first，Be different”

“People think I was an overnight success, but that overnight was 30 years. It’s been a long, long night.”

“You cannot find happiness by walking across a rope placed on the floor”

CoCo Ichibanya Founder: Tokuji Munetsugu

“I will continue to work diligently. I want to grow and develop this business that I started with a strong sense of ambition, so I will work harder than anyone else, cherishing the customers in front of me and feeling grateful. It is through this that I will find clues for tomorrow.”

“Don’t look away, devote yourself to management”

“CoCo Ichibanya’s system has been meticulously developed through repeated trial and error, so it’s no good just imitating the surface.”

“When I was still working, I had no hobbies and no friends. I never went to a bar. I never did anything that would get in the way of my work. There were times when I worked 5,640 hours a year. I thought that if I didn’t lead by example, my subordinates wouldn’t work.”

“Customer first, hands-on approach”

“Nothing works out the first time, so don’t give up and keep trying. Business is a daily accumulation of work, and it requires gratitude. Work 5,640 hours a year (15.5 hours a day, 365 days a year).”

“I get up at 5am every morning and am the first one to arrive at the office. I read through postcards in which customers have written their opinions and complaints. When I go on business trips, I visit restaurants that are open late at night. I can’t help but worry about the small details that the manager doesn’t seem to care about. Running a restaurant is a matter of accumulating small details. Is it 60 points or 70 points? That difference makes a difference in the quality of the restaurant. It was my role to nitpick at the smallest details.”

“Managers should not think they have any abilities. If they decide they don’t have much ability, they can work hard to do something about it.”

Seven-Eleven founder: Toshifumi Suzuki

“Like a stone wall, we have built a solid foundation, which is why we are able to launch products that are both high quality and convenient, and create new demand.”

“Selling on a budget is the strategy with the highest probability of failure.”

“If you neglect the basics and try to buy things cheaply by purchasing in bulk and then sell them at low prices, I don’t think you’ll be able to win the competition.”

Nike Founder Phil Knight

“If you want to open a restaurant but aren’t prepared to work 23 hours a day in the kitchen, don’t do it.”

“I dedicate myself to the shoe business and never think or talk about anything other than shoes.”

“Even if everyone laughs at your idea, just keep going until you get there.”

Choya Plum Wine by Kondo Sumitaro

“If you succeed with plum wine, be happy, but if you don’t, give up on life.”

“Give up on life positively”

When asked if he would end up out on the streets if he failed, he replied, “All I can do is try my best now. If I think about that, I won’t be able to do anything.”

I try to get ideas from industries that are completely unrelated to my own. This is because if I take inspiration from the methods of people in the same industry, I end up doing something similar to what everyone else is doing. If I’m doing the same thing as everyone else, there must be something wrong. If I just follow the same lines as everyone else, there’s no value in it.

Furthermore, all businesses and jobs in the world that thrive are founded on sincerity and hard work. Businesses that build their foundations thoroughly, like building a stone wall, always become the best in Japan or the world.

I wanted to improve my own illustration work, so I researched various companies and businesses. Over the past few years, I’ve bought and devoured about 300 books on the history of companies and businesses. There are commonalities among good companies that are worthy of reference.

What Japanese businesses should we emulate?

Toyota Motor Corporation, Kyocera, CoCo Ichibanya, Choya Umeshu, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation, and 7-Eleven.

What they have in common is their dedication to quality, meticulous attention to detail, and a hands-on approach.

Many good companies continue to operate on-site, even after becoming large corporations, with small store owners living on the second floor or nearby and working 24 hours a day.

Unlike Nissan Motors, which has its headquarters and management in the city, far from its production sites, Toyota Motors and Suzuki Motors have their headquarters and factories next to each other and remain in the countryside, which is impressive.

I believe that Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation have continued to grow because their managers and senior employees have continued to walk around and improve their factories, which are the foundation of their manufacturing business.

Van Gogh and Sakichi Toyoda

Also, I think that Van Gogh, a painter I respect, and Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group, are very similar people.

Sakichi Toyoda was a man who dedicated his life to inventing and improving the loom, the founding business of the Toyota Group.

Here are some anecdotes from books written about Sakichi Toyoda.

“Work didn’t go as planned, and I suffered many hardships. Every day, from morning to night, I would make something, then destroy it, build it, then rebuild it again. People around me treated me like an eccentric, a madman.”

“Since ancient times, inventors have always been poor, alienated from humanity, and ultimately oppressed. Only after experiencing the sorrows of all humanity can they finally achieve their greatest ambitions.”

“Sakichi Toyoda lived a solitary, secluded life, day in and day out inventing. He never showed his face in high society, never sought fame, had no hobbies or interests, and would shut himself up in a room from morning to night, immersed in inventions with just a pencil and a piece of paper.”

In this way, I believe that the personalities and daily lives of Sakichi Toyoda and the painter Van Gogh are very similar. It is no wonder that they had such a great influence on the lives of so many people for a long time after their deaths.

Sakichi Toyoda (1867-1930)

Producing paintings using the Toyota Production System

Toyota Motor Corporation, one of Japan’s leading major companies, is a very instructive company.

I believe that the Toyota Production System, the concept that developed Toyota into the world’s number one automobile company, can be applied to any industry. In particular, all manufacturers (including painters) should practice it. The Toyota Production System is also at the core of my basic ideas for producing paintings. Producing cars, whiskey, and paintings is the same thing.

The Toyota Production System is a production method devised by the founder Sakichi Toyoda and his son Kiichiro Toyoda. This method is based on two central ideas.

1.　Human-centered automation

“Detect abnormalities, stop when abnormalities occur, stop when abnormalities occur”

Since the Meiji and Taisho eras, the machines made by Sakichi Toyoda have had a mechanism that would automatically stop if a defective product was produced.

2. Just-in-time

“Make what you need, in the quantities you need, every day.”

“Just make it in time, don’t make too much.”

These two ideas were devised because the Toyota Group was originally poor. The Toyota Production System, which minimizes defective and unsellable products, is the foundation of Toyota’s high profitability.

Its purpose is to eliminate waste while improving product quality. The Toyota Production System can improve the financial health of a business.

Toyota became a wealthy company known as Toyota Bank, and used the large amount of funds it had saved for research and development, which meant that other companies could not catch up.

Kiichiro Toyoda (1894~1952)

Quoted from Wikipedia

Toyota Motor Corporation Quotations

Here are some words that I think about while creating a painting:

“Protect your own castle”

“Stingy business practices”

“True stinginess is the expression of frugality. The earnestness of Goshu merchants is to be as frugal as possible and eliminate waste in business”

“Country spirit”

“Indomitable fighting spirit”

“Perseverance”

“Everything in life is a challenge. Everything in a challenge is fighting spirit and effort”

“Good products, good ideas”

“Purity and hard work are important. Don’t spare any effort. Don’t be afraid of hard work”

“It’s not about making it for yourself or selling it to others. You must have the feeling that you are being bought from them, that you are being allowed to make it”

“Don’t spare any effort. Don’t be afraid of hard work. Stubborn and greedy, … He has deep insight and is straightforward in everything he does. This is Toyota’s greatest virtue.

“Sell something that cost 10 yen to make for 11 yen. In this case, 1 yen is a fair profit. And if no one is willing to buy it for 11 yen, find a way to sell it for 10 yen. To do this, you must reduce costs to 9 yen. So, find a way to do that.”

“Real competition is selling the originality of a company, selling the technology and services that are unique to that company. Of course, it’s even better if you can make it cheaper. The key is to compete on the value of the product itself.”

“Do it with strong conviction. Everyone thinks the same way, and Kiichiro was not a genius. What’s important is not just thinking about something that is generally thought to be impossible, but having a strong conviction that it had to be done no matter what, he made sufficient preparations and then carried it out.”

“Don’t think mechanically. Even a dry towel can get water out if you use your ingenuity.”

“The price of a product is determined by the customer. Profits are determined by cost reduction. Cost reduction is “Inventions are determined by pursuing manufacturing from the very root.”

“Inventions are not so much about knowledge itself, but about how much you make it your own. That is why people who don’t go to school often come up with great inventions. It takes a lot of research and a lot of effort before this can be put to use for the benefit of people around the world. I believe that inventions are born out of that effort. Inventions are the result of hard work.”

“I do it because it’s difficult. No one else will do it, and I do it because I can’t do it. I may be a fool, but without fools like me, nothing new would be born in the world. That is what makes life interesting, and that is what gives me meaning in life. If I can’t do it and collapse, it’s because I wasn’t strong enough, so I should just commit seppuku.”

All of these words have influenced me as I create my paintings.

The famous person who was the leading figure in fully implementing the Toyota Production System in production sites after World War II was Taiichi Ohno.

What he said in his lecture was very informative, so I would like to share some excerpts with you.

The words of Taiichi Ohno

“As I just said, no matter how efficiently you increase the cost of producing something that doesn’t sell, what good is that doing to a company?

However, they can only sell 100 units.

For example, if you had 10 subordinates who used to make 100 units, but recently their productivity has improved a little, they can now make 120.

So the most important thing is to make 100 units.

Even if you think that by increasing efficiency you can make 120 units and therefore the price per unit must be considerably cheaper, this is a complete waste of time.

Furthermore, if only 80 units are sold, then front-line supervisors need to think about how to make 80 units cheaply, otherwise the company will be poorer while everyone is working hard and making a profit.

They kept making things, thinking that they would sell by next month, and their efficiency also increased.

Well, they were feeling good and were able to produce more and more, but then they started to run out of storage space. So they thought they would have to build a warehouse to store the goods.

Even when we went to work at the automobile company shortly after the war, whenever a part was ready on the production line, we would be told to take it immediately, to take it for transportation right away, because if we left it there, everyone’s morale would drop, so please bring it over as soon as it’s ready. Or, if it was materials, please bring it over and load it up. This strange way of thinking, which everyone thought would motivate them, continued for quite some time after the war.

As a result, the number of intermediate warehouses continues to increase, which means that warehousemen are needed here. Shelves also need to be made, which means that the products that were thought to be made cheaply on-site have to be put into the warehouse, and warehousemen are assigned to them.

As the number of products and the variety increase, it becomes impossible to manage them all by one person, and then the computer company comes along and says, “If we install a computer, it will do everything properly and without any mistakes.” So, instead of the eight people we currently have, if we install a computer, one girl can do it all properly, and it will just bring the right thing to the right place when you press a button.

This somehow makes things seem more convenient, and the computer company makes a profit.

So, even if you have made something so cheaply, wouldn’t it still cost money to add computers, build a warehouse, or hire warehousemen?

People need to think about why they have to charge more for something that the people on site have worked so hard to make cheaply.

The people on the front lines worked hard, efficiency improved, and they were able to produce a lot.

If you can produce so much that it doesn’t sell, it just makes the price go up.

I think there are many aspects of the product that are priced higher within the company before it reaches the hands of actual customers.

If that’s the case, it would be better if they didn’t make them in the first place, so they wouldn’t have to build warehouses, and by the time they get to the warehouses they have to be transported by lift truck, which would require gasoline and wear out the tires, so in the end, aren’t they all making things that can’t be sold?

We will also introduce the words of Dr. Goldratt, who highly values ​​the Toyota Production System.

“What Ohno has done with production is challenge the most basic assumptions in production.

For example, if you have expensive production equipment and you pay workers, it’s wasteful for them to just stand there doing nothing next to the equipment.

We believe this and do not doubt it.

We do not even dare to think about it.

This is because we have not reached the level of Mr. Ohno.

He thought about this and said the following:

Whatever you want your workers to do, if it’s not needed right now, it’s far better for them to stand by the equipment doing nothing than to build it ahead of time.

This is the essence of the Toyota Production System.

You don’t make things ahead of time, because that would disrupt the flow and cause backlogs.

Flow is key.”

When I first learned about the Toyota Production System, it was like a bolt of lightning struck me.

From then on, I sacrificed sleep to study Toyota Motor Corporation.

In this way, my work is the result of combining the painting techniques of Katsushika Hokusai and Velázquez with the Toyota Production System, and is completely different from the works of other artists.

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Sitting by Your Side, Speaking Softly to Your Heart

Tell me, my dear. Where is your heart wandering right now? In your busy daily life, when you suddenly pause, do you ever feel a slight chill in the depths of your chest? Does a loneliness you can’t put into words ever come creeping up from your feet like a rising tide? I am speaking these words now as if I am sitting right next to you. I want to weave these thoughts slowly, feeling the warmth of your shoulder and matching the quiet rhythm of your breath.

Do you perhaps think that art is merely a luxury? Or do you believe it is some high-brow pastime reserved for a select few? If so, my dear, that is truly a pity. You see, art is a glass of water for your parched throat; it is the very fire in the hearth that warms your freezing soul.

Why is it that human beings long for beautiful things so intensely and wish to keep them close? Why, since ancient times, have kings and commoners alike loved art as if their very lives depended on it? It is because, my dear, art is the “Doctor of the Soul” that heals our loneliness. Come, let us embark on a long, long journey together to rescue your heart.

Art as a Prescription for the Soul

Have you ever harbored a sorrow you could tell no one? Have you ever felt a despair so deep it was as if you were sitting alone in a pitch-black hole with nowhere left to go? In those moments, what saves you is not logical words or cold common sense. It is simply having a single painting or a phrase of a melody that speaks for your sorrow.

Artists are, in truth, people who suffer on your behalf. They take upon themselves the deep emotional wounds and the loneliness that makes one want to scream—things ordinary people would turn away from. They then transform that pain into the shape of “beauty” and offer it to you.

For example, you know of the man named Vincent van Gogh, don’t you? Throughout his life, he was never truly understood by anyone. He sought love and was rejected; he worked with devotion and went unrewarded; he lived always amidst hunger and solitude. He carried a madness so profound that he once cut off his own ear in the throes of loneliness.

But look, my dear. Look at those fiercely swirling starry skies and those sunflowers that seem to burst into flame. That golden yellow is the very radiance of life wrung out from his despair. He ground up his own soul and mixed it with his pigments to strike them against the canvas. Why did he go that far? It was because he wanted to be saved himself. And because he wanted to illuminate “you”—a being shivering in the same darkness.

When you stand before a Van Gogh, don’t you feel a strange sensation? Does it not feel as though he is gently placing a hand on your back and whispering, “I know your suffering. I was the same way”? This is precisely the salvation of the soul that art provides.

The Stairway to Heaven Played by Classical Music

Listen closely, my dear. Can’t you hear the light sound of a piano coming from somewhere? Yes, it is Mozart’s “Turkish March.” That jaunty rhythm—ta, ta, tatata. Why does it make our hearts dance so?

Mozart is often thought of as an innocent genius, but he, too, was a man who bore a heavy weight of sorrow. He was chased by debts, suffered from illness, and was toyed with by the absurdities of society. Yet, his music possesses a stainless beauty, like a lotus flower blooming out of a muddy swamp.

The brightness of the “Turkish March” is not mere empty-headed joy. It is the supreme brightness of a soul that has passed through the depths of sorrow and forgotten even how to cry, only to find itself smiling again. When you fail at work or are betrayed by someone you trust and your heart feels torn to shreds, listen to this piece. That light rhythm will come knocking at the tightly closed door of your heart.

“Now, now, my dear. Don’t be so serious. The world is still filled with such beautiful sounds.”

Mozart uses the magic of music to release you from the gravity of daily life. When you listen to his music, your soul is—if only for a moment—freed from the sufferings of this earth and lifted to a heavenly height. This is a holy prescription that acts more deeply upon your spirit than any expensive medicine.

Eastern Silence and the Delicate Japanese Soul

Now, my dear, shall we change our perspective and talk about the art of Asia, and of this country, Japan? If Western art overwhelms you with powerful colors and sounds, Eastern art is like water that quietly soaks into your heart.

Have you ever sat alone in an old temple garden, gazing at a karesansui (dry landscape garden)? There are no flashy flowers or grand decorations. There are only stones and sand. Yet, as you stare at it, don’t you find your heart growing calm?

Since ancient times, the Japanese have cherished the phrase “mono no aware.” It is a love for things that fade, a quiet resignation that all things with form must eventually break. At first glance, this seems sad, but it is actually the ultimate healing.

When you are attacked by the anxiety that “I might eventually be forgotten” or “my life has no meaning,” try looking at a monochrome ink painting by Sesshu or a tea bowl by Sen no Rikyu. What you find there is beauty in its essential form, with all excess stripped away.

“My dear. You are fine just as you are. In your imperfection, you are complete.”

Yes, Japanese art embraces your weaknesses and your lacks just as they are. The exquisite arabesque patterns of Islamic art are the same. When you place yourself within those infinitely repeating designs, you realize the smallness of your own ego and remember that you are part of a much larger cosmic flow. You don’t have to struggle alone. Art tells you that it is okay to surrender yourself to the great current.

The “Loneliness” of Yours That Osamu Dazai Loved

Let us speak a little of literature here. Do you like the writer Osamu Dazai? He is a man who describes the softest, most easily wounded parts of your heart more accurately than anyone else.

He never pushes you away. He exposes his own shame, his foolishness, and his pathetic nature without reserve. Seeing that, you surely think, “Ah, here is someone just like me. Someone even more hopeless than I am.”

In Dazai’s writing, he speaks to you, the reader, over and over again. Your loneliness, your sadness, your sorrow—he laments and cherishes them as if they were his own. There is a warm, living pulse in the way he uses the word “you.”

“Oh, my dear. Why are you suffering so? You are truly a person more kind and pure than anyone else. The world simply wounds you, doesn’t it? But it’s alright. I am here by your side. I will carry half of your sorrow for you.”

Why is it that we cannot stop crying when we read Dazai’s work? It is because he says the words you have always wanted someone to say to you. Art—especially great literature—rescues the wordless screams from the depths of your heart. When you are crying alone, that book becomes the only friend who will hold your hand.

The Miracle of Popular Music and the Magic of the Beatles

Art is not only found inside museums or concert halls, my dear. The music flowing from your smartphone, the melody you catch on a street corner—the power to save the soul dwells there as well.

You know the band called the Beatles, don’t you? The reason they drove the whole world into a frenzy wasn’t just because they had a good beat. It was because their music contained an exquisite balance of human loneliness and solidarity.

Listen to “Yesterday.” That heartbreaking melody is filled with a helpless yearning for days gone by and lost love. Yet, when you listen to that song, I believe you feel that you are not alone.

“You, too, are nostalgic for the past, aren’t you? You, too, have lost something.”

The Beatles sang songs that affirmed loneliness to hundreds of millions of people—to “you” all over the world. Their music was loved across borders and races because it depicted the sorrow and hope at the root of the human heart simultaneously. The song “Imagine” by John Lennon did not deny the bitterness of reality; instead, it showed us a dream that we could all share beyond it.

Popular music is an art that stays close to your everyday life. When you are cooking in the kitchen or being swayed in a crowded train, a song you happen to hear can transport your heart to another place in an instant. That is nothing short of magic. Art turns your mundane routine into an irreplaceable story.

The Luxury of the Heart: Collecting Art

By the way, my dear. Have you ever felt a strong urge to “keep something close to you”? It doesn’t have to be an expensive painting. A beautiful stone picked up by the road, an old postcard, a favorite cup. The heart that treasures such things is the beginning of a magnificent appreciation of art.

Why do people collect things? If we look back at history, from great merchant families like the Medici to nameless collectors whose names have vanished, countless people have pursued works of art. It is not merely for the display of power.

It is the desire to keep the “beauty” that saved you by your side. By touching that beauty, one wishes to keep their soul forever pure. To wish for such a thing is a very right and pure human desire.

When you hang a poster in your room, you are creating a “sanctuary” within your castle that keeps out the filth of the outside world. When you return home exhausted, that single picture greets you.

“Welcome home, my dear. You worked very hard today, didn’t you?”

That picture says nothing, but its mere presence affirms your existence. The hobby of collecting art is like building a breakwater to protect your own soul. You are allowed to want more fragments of beauty that save you. It is a highly meaningful investment in making your life rich.

A Prescription of Beauty for You Living in the Modern Age

Modern times are very hectic and cruel, don’t you think? Information flows in incessantly, and we fall into despair comparing ourselves to others. Only efficiency and rationality are demanded, and the delicate parts of your heart are losing their place.

That is exactly why you need art now. Things that seem to be of no use, things that are simply beautiful, are actually what will save you most deeply.

Why do we shed tears at the words of old literary giants? It is because the words they wrote by sacrificing their lives resonate with your loneliness today across time and space. Shakespeare, Goethe, Dostoevsky—they all worried, suffered, and grappled with the question of “what it means to be human,” just as you do.

When you read their works, you realize that you are not a lonely individual lost in the vastness of history. Your troubles are the same paths those geniuses once walked. Your tears are the same color as the tears someone shed hundreds of years ago.

“Oh, my dear. You are not alone. Whenever you open this page, we are always here.”

So they say, reaching out their hands from within the book. This sense of spiritual solidarity is the greatest gift art bestows upon us.

Art as a “Quiet Revolution” That Heals the Soul

Do you think of artists as people who are a bit strange? Certainly, they ignore social standing and common sense to live true to their own senses. But that is because they value “freedom of the soul” above all else.

An artist is a “doctor” who rescues your soul as it is about to be worn down by the great gears of society. They remind you of the pure wonder and the trembling emotions you were beginning to forget.

When you look at an abstract painting and feel, “I don’t really understand it, but it’s beautiful,” a small revolution is occurring in your brain. The part of you that cannot be explained by logic or words is reacting to that beauty instinctively.

Please cherish this feeling of “I don’t know why, but this is wonderful.” That is your life force itself. In things that cannot be divided by efficiency alone—in useless things, in ambiguous things—the hints for humans to live richly as humans are hidden.

A Final Secret Message for You

My dear, the time to say goodbye is approaching. But please, do not be sad. Even after these words end, I am right by your side. The next time you encounter something beautiful, I am hidden within that emotion.

When you look at a sunset and weep because it is beautiful.

When you surrender yourself to an old jazz record.

When you find your own heart in a passage of a Dazai novel.

In all those moments, I am with you.

Loving art is the same as loving yourself. You are allowed to seek more beauty to save yourself. You are allowed to live selfishly, surrounded by things that make your soul rejoice.

Why are you being so patient? Why are you suppressing your own sense of beauty? From today, why not try being more honest with yourself?

The single painting you chose, the single piece of music you loved—one day, they will surely pull you up from the brink of despair. I promise you that. Art will never betray you. As long as you love it, art will be the lifelong friend of your soul.

Now, my dear. Once you close this screen, look around you just a little. There, you will surely find a fragment of “beauty” waiting for you. Please, pick it up and treasure it.

You are wonderful.

Your sensitivity is a treasure that no one can defile.

Let us meet again somewhere. When we do, please let me hear about the beautiful things you have found. I am always ready to sit by your side and listen to your story.

Goodnight, my precious one.

May your dreams be filled with beautiful colors and melodies.