The very first pen name I ever came up with was Sakura Sakurakawa（桜川 さくら）.
Whenever sakura flowers—cherry blossoms come into bloom, it brings those memories back.
I chose that name because I wanted it to reflect the beauty of the changing seasons and nature, inspired by Japanese aesthetics such as kachōfūgetsu and setsugekka—expressions that celebrate flowers, birds, the wind, the moon, snow, and the beauty of the four seasons.
Now I create under a different name.
But one thing hasn’t changed. I still love the sense of elegance and quiet beauty found in nature. I also love refined simplicity and the feeling that something has been thoughtfully put together.
Nature, stillness, and beauty have always inspired me. I don’t know if my illustrations truly capture those qualities, but I hope they do.
Every now and then, someone tells me that my artwork feels very urban.
That always makes me incredibly happy. It feels as though I’ve managed to capture a beautiful atmosphere.
Now, I simply hope to live in a way that lives up to the name I use today—to become someone who is nice and neat, both inside and out.
