丸の内カフェで"PORTUGAL~ARTE E POESIA”開催中!

2011年1月26日(水)に、丸の内カフェ(千代田区丸の内3-3-1 新東京ビルジング1F)で旅と英会話スキルのセミナー”「私だけの旅」をつくる簡単英会話”の講師を勤めさせていただきました♪受講者の皆さんが、ノリノリで発音練習を一緒にやってくださったので、嬉しかったです。
http://www.marunouchicafe.com/seminar/index.html#20110126

2010年6月1日(火)~14日(月)に丸の内カフェにて、ポルトガルで描いてきた水彩画風景を展示。おかげさまで沢山の方にご来場・ご鑑賞頂きました。ありがとうございます♪

(日本ポルトガル通商修好条約締結150周年記念イベントです↓)

http://www.marunouchicafe.com/gallery/index.html#20106130

January 26, 2009

Will or Denzel?

That was a question from a good friend of mine, and also one of the latest topics featured by the Vanity Fair.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2009/01/screenwriters-have-your-quill-ready.html

Many people may have thought that the whole inauguration ceremony were JUST LIKE A MOVIE. It was surely impressive, moving and exciting to be a witness of the historical moment when a young and clever, and good looking!, man becomes the 44th President of the United States. Millions of audience, you could see on TV at a glance, was not Computer Graphics, but the real! Yet the music played at the site was not LIVE, but recorded on the previous day. (We cannot blame China, any more!)

Well, who would I cast if we film the story of Obama's glorious triumph?

I would vote for Will Smith, rather than Denzel Washington. Although I'm a great fan of Denzel, I would cast Will because I would love to depict his half life story, mostly emphasizing on his Dream and Romance of young Obama. In my casting list, Beyonce is placed the top for the role of Michelle. Halle Berry might be the next candidate for the role.

==MINA's Casting for the Movie "Yes, We Can!"==
Barack Obama: Will Smith
Michelle Obama: Beyonce
Mama Obama: Meryl Streep
Papa Obama: Morgan Freeman
Young Obama: Jaden Smith (Will's son.)
John McCain: Steve Martin

January 18, 2009

Greeting Card Design for 2008-09 Winter


Here is my greeting card design of this year's winter season (2008 Christmas--'09 New Year). I painted this when I was traveling in Nagasaki in late November. It took about 30 min. to finish the outline and colors.

I came back to Tokyo with this piece and soon started printing greeting cards.

As the church, Oura Tenshudo, is known as the symbol of the wish for peace of the people of Nagasaki, I thought it should be suitable to show the piece to my friends, to share the wish for peace at the time of Christmas/New Year.
I sent out about 300 copies of Christmas Cards/New Years greetings with this design along with my wish for the world peace.

May the year 2009 be filled with peace and happiness for you and your dearest ones!

January 8, 2009

Year of KIMONO


I play the piano, but I don't play the Japanese harp (koto).
I play the flute, but I don't play the Japanese flute (shakuhachi).
I play the violin, but I don't play the shamisen (three stringed Japanese instrument).

I love coffee, but I cannot serve Japanese green tea in a proper, authentic way.
I love flowers, but I didn't take any lessons of Japanese flower arrangement.

What am I? Where am I from?
Questioning myself, I have recently set my goals of this year.

One of them is... to be able to do something very Japanese.

So, I tried to wear kimono by myself.

As a matter of fact, the majority of Japanese girls nowadays are not able to wear kimono, not summer yukata, by themselves. When we have to wear kimono for formal occasions, we have to go to beauty salon to do our hair, and to put on OBI, a wide belt for kimono, which usually take 2-3 hours, or $200-$300.

During the New Year's vacation, I came by my parents' place and asked Mom to teach me how to tie obi. First of all, Mom did obi to show me how. I untied obi and tried again and again... And finally, I managed!=Photo left.

I also kept practicing to do obi by myself. At home I wrapped cushions with obi and... Yes, I did it!

So, now what?

I need to go out somewhere to show off my beautiful kimono and beautifully tied obi!!