I could never really talk with my grandparents. Being raised with the inability to speak Japanese shaped identity from an early age and my idea of what it meant to be a Japanese-American. While my family made sure to stay connected with our Japanese heritage through traditions and activities, early on I felt the language barrier prevented me from fully connecting with my culture. Creation has served as a way for me to understand my identity and gain an appreciation for all the subjects that inspire my artworks. Through collaboration, teamwork, and research, art has broadened my perspective and helped me to realize that language doesn't have to prevent me from reaching others. Ironically, it's been a means of creative communication and discovering how to express love where words cannot exist.