A sad day for Yayoi Kusama fans

One thing that life in Japan has given me is a real appreciation of art in all its forms. Living here, I feel like you can't help but notice how deeply creativity is woven into everyday life, from festivals and crafts to traditional gardens and more. 

Hearing that Yayoi Kusama has died at 97 feels like the end of an era. She passed away earlier this month but the news was only broken in the media today. She's without a doubt my favorite Japanese artist, if not my favorite artist full stop.

I think for many of us living in Japan, her work has been basically impossible to avoid. Things like her iconic polka dots, pumpkins, and Infinity Mirror Rooms have become recognizable around the world, but experiencing her work right here feels extra special. The picture I shared above is a sculpture she created for the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale here in Niigata (it's called Tsumari in Bloom), and I'm so happy I've had the chance to see it in person.