Inside Mirror in the Woods #2: “Finding Her Colors in Silence”

"Even in quiet isolation, a child’s imagination can blaze brighter than the world outside."

One may wonder—why did Miho choose to pursue art at such a young age?

During her quiet, modest childhood, Miho was often sick and frequently hospitalized, spending long stretches of time alone at school.

She found solace in immersing herself in her own world, listening for hours to the music spinning on the record player her father had bought her. While many of her peers were obsessed with popular Japanese idol groups, Miho was captivated by Western music and punk rock.

During her hospital stays, she became absorbed in drawing with colored pencils, and upon returning home, she would dive straight back into music. Miho possessed an uncanny ability to hyper-focus when pursuing her interests—sometimes to the point of obsession.

Art class at school was always Miho’s favorite. On one occasion, she won top prize in a citywide campaign poster competition aimed at drug prevention. Her bold composition, featuring stairs and a broken bicycle, was striking and even shocking.

The first person to recognize Miho’s budding talent and guide her was her art teacher. This teacher encouraged Miho to pursue art seriously and convinced her initially reluctant parents to allow her to apprentice under a well-known painter.