Lisa Tajima: Before I started bonsai - this was before my father's illness - I became very depressed because one of my friends committed suicide. I really wanted to know why these sad things happen, and I seriously started thinking of going back to school to study psychology or something philosophical. Actually, I had attended to Japanese University classes without credits, and this experience gave me the idea to transfer my credits from the US to a Japanese University pursue getting BA degree. I told this idea to my father, and he agreed and promised me his support. Shortly afterward, he lost consciousness. I was studying at his room in the hospital and thinking what I should do. I really felt I needed something to be myself. Then I knew about the cyber University system in US. In this way, I could work in Tokyo without commuting to school and I could earned credits by taking courses through the Internet.

I was interested in Art a little, so [taking an art class] would be nice, I thought. The course was very fun and I liked it a lot and when the chapter came to CRAFT I saw the light. "Why hadn't I tried to make my pots myself? Why NOT?!"  I started going to local ceramic class and making my own pots. My ceramic teacher was great person and he always said to me "Don't try to make it simply smooth and beautiful. Enjoy yourself first, then naturally you can express yourself without thinking."  He loves nature and lives with nature. He taught me not only ceramic but also how we should live. He is over 60 years old, very calm like Karate Kid's Master but he also has wild side.  Believe it or not, he actually bites and eats clay!  I don't attend his class, anymore, but I still visit him often.

I was crazy [with the idea of] making my own pots and didn't have much time for studying through the Internet. But it was ok, I quit. I was looking for something not to escape from my friend's death and my father's tragedy, but something that I could be myself and move ahead positively. Making bonsai and pots helped me a lot. When I was doing them I didn't cry, and I could make many new friends. I decided to hold my first bonsai and ceramic exhibition at very small gallery in Harajuku a couple of months later, and did it!

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