Early Life and Artistic Beginning
Born in Japan in 1926, she became a teacher at a national school following the end of World War II. In 1948, she began formally studying painting at the Kodo Art Research Institute under the mentorship of Junkichi Mukai and Teiji Takai. In 1955, driven by a desire to cultivate creativity and free expression—often difficult to nurture within the constraints of traditional schooling—she founded two children's art studios, named Himawari Atelier, in Utsunomiya and Koga. Over the course of her life, she taught and inspired countless children through her work.

Travels and Artistic Focus 

In August 1977, she embarked on a journey through England, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. From then on, she visited various parts of Asia to gather material and create sketches, continuing her creative work with a focus on the theme of children. In 1979, she held a solo exhibition in Kathmandu to commemorate the International Year of the Child, sponsored by the Royal Nepal Academy. In the same year, she also held solo exhibitions at the Calcutta Academy of Fine Arts in India.

Noteworthy Achievements and Legacy

In 1982, her original picture book, Romila's Dream, received the prestigious Picture Book Nippon Award. Building on this success, she continued to create picture books while also holding exhibitions of her original drawings at places like La Rapport in Ginza, the Chihiro Iwasaki Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Pakistan in Islamabad. These exhibitions reflected her broader mission to foster connections between children in Japan and across Asia. Her major picture books include Rani's Wish, Thank You, Madal, and Durga's Promise (all published by Kaisei-sha).