Mi nascondo nel mare di notte

This was the very first work of art I ever acquired, more than forty years ago. At the time, Kuni Sugiyama and I were both working part-time at Recruit. He later went on to study abroad in Italy, where he immersed himself in woodblock printing. As an artist of my own generation, I purchased the work partly as a gesture of support.
It was later revealed that this same piece was also cherished by Arthur Dunkel, then Director-General of GATT—an organization known at the time for its firm stance toward Japan—and that it was presented to the Japanese Imperial Family as well.
After Mr. Sugiyama returned to Japan, we collaborated on a project for the Kids Earth Fund. Our friendship has continued ever since, even after he established his atelier in Kawaguchiko and made it his home.