Since I was a small child, I have always been a curious child, and I have always wanted to learn new things, especially art. I started going to drawing, calligraphy, and piano schools when I was a kindergartner, and I continued these lessons for about 15 years or so. I also started going to an abacus school when I was a child.

I received hundreds of awards for my drawing and calligraphy, both locally and nationally as a child. I was awarded the highest level in calligraphy, and I was also awarded with one of the highest levels in abacus. Both drawing and abacus lessons enhanced my mental visualization skills, because my drawing teacher trained us to be creative by visualizing a scene in our minds and bring it to life on paper. I also trained in mental arithmetic using an imaginary abacus, visualizing the movement of the beads in my mind to perform mathematical calculations.

Among all of my artistic activities, playing the piano was my most favorite. Whether it was a graduation ceremony or school chorus competitions, in both elementary and junior high school, I was always the one who would play the piano in front of all other students and their parents. I loved playing the piano so much, because it allowed me to express myself and my emotions.

I learned various forms of discipline from these artistic activities. Both abacus and piano lessons taught me the disciplines of long hours of practice, long-periods concentration, and absolute accuracy. I also learned discipline from my calligraphy teacher, a Buddhist nun who taught her classes at a temple. Beyond the art of calligraphy, she instilled in us proper etiquette, respect, and self-discipline.

Another area of art which I started learning in my adolescence that influenced me was tea ceremony. Nowadays, I see the Japanese word 侘寂 (Wabi Sabi) being used so frequently. But my belief is that not many Japanese people have actually experienced how to conduct a tea ceremony or have learned 茶道 (The Way of Tea). I received Urasenke Tea Ceremony Certificate after practicing it for 3 years. Many hours of practicing tea ceremony and discipline were other crucial influences that spiritually contributed to who I am as an artist today.

Studying languages and foreign studies have strongly contributed to my artistic style. I have a BA in Foreign Studies where I studied English, French, and German, and I have studied a total of 7 foreign languages. I am an EIKEN Grade 1 holder, which is the highest level of the standardized practical English exam in Japan. It is a highly respected and prestigious qualification endorsed by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

I learned the art of human communication between people from different cultures, and I also have work experience as an interpreter and translator.

I see the work of translation as an art because good translation has to go beyond the literal meaning. It must dive into the context and cultures. To me, translation is about creating something new: a bridge between different cultures so that people can understand each other.

I have lived in many different places outside Japan, and I have been to about 16 different countries. I have a unique cultural background and an international perspective. I have different ideas and points of view that are uniquely Oriental and Western. As my Japanese friend once told me, I can become two completely different persons depending on whether I am communicating in Japanese or English, because I can change my mode of communication and my behavior depending on which language I am using. I can switch between the two perspectives easily because it is a fusion of both the Orient and the West.

Using my parents’ camera, I started taking pictures when I was young during my elementary school years. Soon, I was obsessed with photography. I felt that photography allowed me to express myself with no one judging me. In order to take a picture, I didn't have to know how to read music sheet, I didn't have to know how to use an abacus, or I didn't have to know any rules about how to conduct a tea ceremony. Just one click and that was all it took.

As a child that seemed like magic, and something in my mind clicked. Of course, now I have a great understanding of the history of photography, and I know that photography took a great deal of innovation and development to get where it is today. I already had been an enthusiastic photographer for more than 20 years, but since my passion for photography has grown stronger over the years, I decided to go back to school to more seriously pursue learning about photography.

The foundation of photography is science: physics, chemistry, and mathematics. And I studied these in depth at school. As an artist, however, I apply and translate these scientific knowledge in order to execute and create my artistic visions, intentions, or emotions. Just like brushes are my tools when I paint or do calligraphy, photographers’ tool is light. And I consider myself a translator of light just like I translate languages. I say this because I utilize my scientific knowledge about light in order to translate it into my artistic vision in my photographic works.

I graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Visual Art & Design with a Photography Emphasis, and I graduated with a distinguished honor conferred on only one student in each School per year: the Provost Graduate of Excellence for the School of Arts, Communication and Media.

I am truly confident in my skills, craft and knowledge as a photographer and an artist.

Taking pictures for me is a means of self-expression. Most of the time when I take pictures, it is when something touches or moves my heart. In a way, my photographic work is a representation of myself and how my mind sees the world. Who I am today is deeply influenced by all these artistic activities from my childhood. And I integrated all of my artistic knowledge and life experience (from drawing, painting, calligraphy, piano, abacus, cooking, baking, tea ceremony, translation and etc.) to create my photographic works.

I take pictures for myself; to understand and express a part of who I am, what interests me, and how I see the world around me. I take pictures for other people; to share the beauty I find and also how I see the world.

Photography is my voice to speak, and a bridge that connects me with the people and the world around me.

I find beauty in imperfection.

Cherry blossoms are beautiful because they bloom only for a short period of time. They are beautiful because they are so fragile. Even when the flowers are dying or decaying, they are beautiful. And even when there are no flowers, I still see the beauty because I can visualize the silk, pink and white flowers blooming again next year.

This is not only true of cherry blossom. It is about everything. In my photography, and in all of my art, I find and embrace beauty in every imperfection.

· Kobe City University of Foreign Studies(Japan) - Received BA in English with Minor in French and German.

(Social Sciences Course- Study of Law, Economics, and Commercial Science)

. Thompson Rivers University(Canada)- Studied English, French, and Spanish as exchange program.

· Durham Technical Community College(USA)- Studied photography as continuing education.

· Duke University(USA)- Studied photography as continuing education.

· Salt Lake Community College(USA)- Received Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Art & Design with Photography Emphasis.

· Certified Professional Photographer -Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

· EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency Grade 1- Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

· Test of English for International Communication 935 - The Institute for International Business Communication

· United Nations Associations Test of English Level B -United Nations Association of Japan

· Diplom Deutsch in Japan 3rd Grade - Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Germanistik in Japan

· Diplome d'Aptitude Pratique au Francais 4th Grade - Association pour la Promotion de l'Enseignement du Français au Japon

· Cooking License, Bread Making License, and Cake Making License - ABC Cooking Studio

· Calculations with Abacus 1st Grade - League of Japan Abacus Associations

· Urasenke Tea Ceremomy

· Kobe Photographer’s Exhibition - Kobe, Japan in 2014

· Duke International House Photo Exhibit (Solo) - North Carolina, USA in 2016 and 2017

· The Carrack’s 5th Birthday at Community Show - North Carolina, USA in 2016

· The National Arts Program Exhibit - North Carolina, USA in 2016

· Nature Photography Exhibit - North Carolina, USA in 2017

· SLCC President’s Artshow - Utah, USA in 2017

· SLCC Student Artshow - Utah, USA in 2018, 2019, and 2020

· Professional Photographers of America - Certified Professional Photographer

· Received Award of Merit at SLCC Student’s Art Show (2018)

· Awarded First Prize at Tracy Aviary Photo Safari Contest (2018)

· Received Honorable Mention at International Photography Awards (2021)

· My image was used in Forbes India (2021)

· Published in multiple FOLIO Magazine

· Inducted into PHI THETA KAPPA Honor Society

· 2019, 2020 SLCC “Pride in Academics” Recipient

· Graduated from SLCC with a distinguished honor

“Provost’ Graduate of Excellence for School of Arts, Communication and Media”

· Professional Photographers of America Member