March 2026 Feast of Black and White

I live and work as a farmer in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, where I was born and raised, painting the local scenery.

The winter landscapes, especially when snow falls, are so beautiful they compel me to pick up my brush.

Snow piled on trees and branches melts away within thirty minutes. I rush outside to capture that fleeting moment when the snow sparkles and glitters.

In the cold air, the snow dances even more beautifully.

When I was young, on my way to school, I’d pick up insects whose wings were covered in frost. They wouldn’t move, and I thought they were dead. But when the warmth of my hand melted the frost, they’d move their wings and fly away. Or, when snow fell on my gloves, I could see the snow crystals clearly. While working in the fields, kites would come right close and stare intently at me, and I’d stare right back.

I love painting these local scenes.

However, capturing the brilliance of snow in oil painting is incredibly difficult. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with acrylic paints and trying new techniques.