TAKARA Magazine Cover - Spring Mountain

For May TAKARA cover, Yasuko-san chose my Spring Mountain piece, yellow flowers version :D The weather has been so gorgeous and the air around us feels cheerful ;)))

Love Pink?

and so do I! :D

Two "Sparkling Pink Flower" Mousepads are sold to Bruce in Michigan and Carol in Australia! Amazing, now somehow people can find my products even in Australia! YAY!!
This picture was taken by my sweet talented photographer Takami a while back :))) Big Arigatooo, Takamiiii ;D

Nuts about "Relax and Feel Good" :P

Made these for Brandon's video project :)))

TAKARA Magazine Cover - Art Heals

For April cover, Yasuko-san chose this piece I made. The title is "Art Heals." We often receive happy sparkling energy by looking at your favorite art. Hope many artworks around the world is healing people and making them happy :D

Try the Delicious Easter Bread at Grandaisy Bakery in NYC!

If you are in New York City, walking around SoHo in a gorgeous sunny day, you should definitely stop by at Grandaisy Bakery, one of my favorite bakeries in NYC ;D For this year, they used my illustration as a card with beautiful matched colored ribbons around! Thank you so sooo much, Monica!! 

I really miss the taste of this magical bread Monica makes! To remember the taste, I went back to my news to see what I wrote before... 

... Crispy outside with sugar and almond, then you go into the many layers of softness and will be surprised at the refreshing open-minded orange peel+citron sparkles and Italian chocolate melty in your mouth... Mmmm I miss it!! If you are in NYC, taste this yummy-ness for me!! Super Happy Easterrr ;D

TAKARA Magazine Cover - Sinking City...

TAKARA Magazine Cover for March... Yasuko-san wanted to use this fish illustration because there was a seafood convention in Boston this month. Yasuko-san told me that the creative director of TAKARA loved this cover the best! The original collage artwork is called "Sinking City - New York," and we felt scared to know that the earthquake & tsunami happened one day after the magazine was published. This artwork originally depicts the greedy city, New York, is sinking into shredded money ocean and almost eaten by the huge fish which is made of money.

TAKARA Magazine Cover - You are My Target ;D

Oooops! Time flew so quickly! Sorry for the delay, but this TAKARA cover was for Valentine's month! :P Yasuko-san chose "You are My Target" illustration for February. Thank YOU so much for printing it so beautifully! Perfect Pink! :D

TAKARA Magazine Cover design & Interview :D

TAKARA Magazine is a free Japanese paper in Boston! If you are Japanese, you should know this super useful & fun magazine! :D Thanks to Yasuko-san, my artwork will be on the cover throughout this year! Woohooo!!

Yasuko-san liked my Mt. Fuji collage "Japanese Energy - I am Passion" because it's very New Year's festive "O-shougatsu" look, and chose for New Year January cover ;D
Below is my interview article! You can click the image to read in Japanese.  Thank YOU Soo Soooo Much, Yasuko-san, for such a wonderful article which gives me more energy & smiles each day ;)))

So, you might be thinking what's up with this mask?! :P This was made for Harvard Masquerade Ball party organized by HESA - Harvard Extension Student Association!  The awesome President Philip Harding & his sweet wife Rachelle Harding and the HESA team made this event so much fun with cool music & delicious dessert!!  

So for the Harvard Masquerade Ball, you have to bring your own mask to wear. This was my first time to make a masquerade mask! With Brandon's help, first I made my mask shape with sculpey clay and baked it in the oven, then colored it with silver spray paint. In the picture below, I am putting shiny rhinestones! Also I incorporated our beloved chicken feathers, sprayed in hot pink, neon green and silver. The flower was white but again sprayed in hot pink! Yeah you know my favorite color is ;P

The below picture was taken by a school photographer Evgenia Eliseeva who has great energy and took many pictures at the event! She made everyone comfortable in front of the camera and here is one of the pictures at the event! Thank you sooo much, Evgenia! :D

I really enjoyed wearing this mask and made me want to wear it every day! Brandon is wearing a safety mask which he got an idea when he was spraying my mask! It turned out to be a such a cool mask ;P

Above is the cool Harvard Masquerade Ball poster and 13 Harvard School logos!

Priceless...!!!

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOUUUU~!!! Priceless time with my sweet families, relatives and friends!! I had such a fun time in Japan and miss them already! ほんとにすっごく楽しかったよ、みんなありがとう！！！

My Aogaku friends! (Some of them I met for the first time at the party but didn't feel that way at all!!) Yoshimi, thank you sooo much for organizing such a fun party with deliciously healthy food & drinks! Yes, there is Santa!! This was Christmas time! ;D Sorry for my super duper late post :P

Here is Richard Basso, the most charismatic teacher I know, in every season outfit he wears (all season no sleeve!!) :D He is the one who taught me about John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Native Indian spirits, how amazing Mother Nature is, our life is... :D
I was soooo happy and thrilled to meet him again after many years!!! Both of us wearing hot pink bracelet :P but the one he has is more useful, it's a wrist wallet! ;D I LOVE YOU, Richaarrrd!!

My Kamako (Kamakura high school) friends!! I haven't seen them for many years but people don't change sometimes, we all have the same spirits! We say in Japanese, "Mitsugo no tamashii hyaku made 三つ子の魂百まで (The spirits of 3 years old last until 100 years old)."

Arigatoooo Makinu-chan for taking us to such a cool spot, Lounge Cafe 1LDK in Fujisawa! It became my favorite cafe in Japan!! This place is kind of hidden, so you have to know how to get there! "1LDK" means 1 Living, Dining and Kitchen, which we use to describe apartments space in Japan. They beautifully renovated such a small space with modern designs :D 

Enjoy their sophisticated delicious food, drinks and dessert! This is Creme Brulee icecrem, first time to have this in my life! Yummm... the sweetness will melt in your mouth... cherish every bite...!

Aya-chan's beautiful hands ;D and perfectly bitter coffee for me! ;)))

Love their utensils...! May I take them home?? :P

So many fun circles... It was like having cafe time in NYC MoMA store! ;D

Ready to leave? How about bathroom? Very welcoming artistic bathroom sign ;)

And finally their cool logo ;D Love it!!

Having not been back to Japan for 4 years made me realized I love Japanese designs, food (even their junk food is healthy!), their "Customers are Gods" service, perfect organization, their environmentally conscious minds, how much I missed my friends and families! Sounds boring, too common, but for me this was an eye-opening feeling. It was almost similar to looking through traveller's eyes. Everything was fresh to me and I could see more good sides of Japan. Sometimes good to step back and see whatever you are looking at. Then you will realize your new perspectives :)

Somehow moody photo of pretty Noriko and me! No filter was used! :P Just seeing the way she speaks makes you love her! :D We found this cool lounge bar/restaurant in Atre Shinagawa, guess what it is called, it is "New York Grand Kitchen"! I guess I Love New York too!! :P

Here is motherly sweet Asuka, her fabulous mama, a very well-behaved beautiful daughter Kanade-chan and sweet son Hitoshi-kun (not in this picture)! :D Asuka is the one said I should change my nickname from Mitan みーたん to Mihoko みほこ when I was 20 years old because I am an adult. So the people I met after her usually call me Mihoko みほこ :P But you can call me Mitan みーたん since I still have the 3 years old spirits ;P

Here is my super-sweet friend Miroku! She is a gorgeous & smart lady and currently looking for a cool boyfriend! wink wink ;D She is a flight attendant for Skymark airline and we are excited for them to have international routes to New York, Paris, London, Frankfurt in the very near future! Woohooo! 

I was so happy we could spend more time together, Miro!! Can't wait seeing you in Boston!!! 

I had dindin with my mother's friend, Yoriko, and her daughter Mariko and my mother! It was like a fun sister time!! :D This cute Mari-chan is looking for a sweet boyfriend now as well! ;))) 

"Yuuri-chan, look at the cameraaaa!" ;D Here are pretty Aishu, her cute daughter Yuuri-chan & sweet Kacchan! :D Thank YOU sooo much for delicious gorgeous lunch, Aishu!! You are a super mom!!! The fun time just flew by so fast. I could have stayed and played with you guys foreverrrr ;)))

Thanks to Tano-kun, I could attended an annual gathering of my elementary school and junior school classmates! That was a fun surprise!! Okay, this time many people have been changed!!

It was so great meeting you again sweet Rie--chan! Thank you so much for introducing Marcia to me! I met Rie-chan at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and now she is enjoying living in Japan, being a graphic designer :D Marcia is working on Half Japanese project - a dialogue about being in between two cultures. It sounds very intriguing. Check out her website! I am not half, 200% pure Japanese, but I know the feeling of not fitting in, feeling like an alien :P I guess it was more about how my parents raised me?! ;D I really love to attend one of her events next time I am in Japan!

AND!! Yes, you know him! My mentor Mako Nagasawa ;D Whenever I meet him, I don't feel like we haven't seen each other for a while! It's like, yeah, we met yesterday too, and see you tomorrow! ;P

Do we look alike? ;))) This hat I am wearing I accidentally kept wearing after we went to the most delicious Ramen place near his house, then at the station, see you sooooon, love youuuuu, then I forgot about the hat and kept wearing it! Sorry Mako but Thank YOU for keeping me warm always!! ;D

Finally, let me thank you to ALL of My Super Precious Friends even whom we didn't take photo with (how did we forget?! but the sweet memory is all in our minds :D) and whom we couldn't get together this time with (gomen ne, but definitely next time ne!!!!). 

You know I am talking to youuuu!! I Really LOVE YOU!!! :D

YAY!! Sold more NYC Skyline Stamps! ;D

Thank Youuu, Janice in New York City, for purchasing 5 sheets of "New York Energy Skyline (white)" stamps, and Michael in New York City for purchasing 6 sheets! ;D Wow!! That's a lot!!

And Thank You Soo Soooo Much, Rachel in New York City, for coming back for "New York Energy Skyline (black)" so many times!! 

Love these spontaneous purchases! ;D Wishing this will continue happening... ;)))) Thank YOU sooo much for your support everyone! So happy to be found here!! :D

Happy Amazingly Fantastic New Year 2011 ;D

This winter holiday I was in Japan!! :D Happy super-belated first new year post here!! :P
The beautiful New Year's decoration "Okazari" my mother put on our door says "Welcoming spring" ;D

For 2011...

人のためになることを見つける、人に与えること

Find something helpful to people, giving back to people

感謝と敬いの気持ちを忘れない

Remember to appreciate & respect

期待の気持ちを持たないこと

No expectations

何事もやってみる！

Try everything!

物事を延期ばかりしない

Do not postpone things-to-do

何でもポジティブな面を探してみる

Find positive sides of everything

空を見上げてみる

Look up the sky

鳥たちが楽しそうに飛んでいる

Birds are flying joyfully

微笑む

Smile

心でも微笑んでみる

Smile in your heart

深い深呼吸...　息をすって...はいて...

Breathe in... breathe out.....

愛情いっぱい！

Full of LOVE!

My mother's "Ozouni" is the best!! :D I can have this everyday!!! 

The magical ingredients are mochi (Japanese rice cake), carrots, shiitake mushroom, daikon (Japanese radish), shungiku (garden chrysanthemum), satoimo (Japanese taro), yuzu skin on top which has super refreshing aroma, and of course my mother's amazing "LOVE" to make every dish deliciosoooo....!

Eco Presentation @ Warren Prescott Elementary School ;)

The dynamite team Alisyn Johnson, founder of Quench, and Wayne Sentman, Oceanic Society Biologist & Naturalist, asked me to present something green and artistic to Warren Prescott Elementary School Green Team :D Since their teacher, Tina Champagne, is a science teacher, I decided to present something science related: a fun way to start growing vegetables at home (or classroom) ;D
(I have been thinking to upload this news and time just flew awayyy!!)

This is what I brought (all biodegradable):
- Organic Yellow Bell Pepper (You can take seeds out from a fresh one or use the dried ones you already took out; either one works!)
- Paper Pot Maker and 8.5 x 11 recycled paper (cut in half before using)
- Paper Egg Carton from Organic Eggs (You can either plant seeds in an egg carton or paper pots)
- Coir Pellets* or Soil
*coconuts husk fiber: excellent water retention, free from bacteria and fungus, saving the environment since they are usually are waste products!
- Hot/Warm Water

The fun part:
- You can enjoy watching your vegetable babies grow! Your appreciation for food goes up ;D
- When you have a fully grown plant, you don't have to buy vegetables from a supermarket = "super" local & organic produce at home (or in classroom)!
- This could be a fantastic gift with a personal message around the paper pot! (which I do sometimes ;D)

All the students had fun playing with coir pellets and watching them expand super fast in hot/warm water ;D They wrote their names and whatever they want to draw on the surface of the paper pots :) Some brought the paper pots home and some left them in the classroom :D
When those babies grow, the kids will smile ;D


Several days later, Alisyn, Wayne, Tina and the Green Team visited Harvard Community Garden ;D Brendan from Office for Sustainability and Tyler from Harvard Community Garden showed us around.

They have all the vegetables you can think of, even watermelon babies!! :D Watermelon plants need more care. They put plastic bottles to protect them from cold nights.
Below are super happy swiss chard and zucchini plants in the back. First time for me to see zucchini plants! They look very similar to cucumber plants but much bigger than cucumber plants!

Gorgeous Mesclun Lettuce Mix!! Bon Appetit~!! ;D

Thank YOU so much for this fun inspiring opportunity, Alisyn, Wayne and Tina! I really had fabulous time with you guys!! It was such a beautiful sunny day!!! :D

(from left to right: Chris, Wayne and Nolan)

About two weeks later, the organic yellow pepper babies stick their beautiful heads out!! ;D

Urban Homesteaders' League Market Stand Poster ;D

Designed the poster for Urban Homesteaders' League Market Stand!

Lisa, Thank YOU so much for your warm support and superb opportunity! Lisa Gross is the founder of Urban Homesteaders' League, and she continues inspiring local communities through sustainable activities :D

The poster hung on the wall at Crema Cafe in Harvard Square ;D

Lisa and me at the Union Square Market in Somerville :D

New York City Energy!

Yay! Thank YOU so much, Christina, for purchasing 5 sheets of "New York Energy Skyline (white)" stamp, and Jennifer, for purchasing 2 sheets of "New York Energy Skyline (black)" stamp! :D So happy to be found here! Hope you two are enjoying beautiful summer in New York City! I purchased "New York Energy Skyline (black)" stamp sheet for myself as well and loving it!