Balloon artist Erisa Sasaki has traveled around Japan and overseas in pursuit of her goal to "bring smiles to people across the world" with her inflatable artworks.
Sasaki, 38, a resident of Sapporo, Hokkaido, was a nervous child who tried to avoid attending elementary and middle school. When she reached senior high school, she gradually became more outgoing and served as president of the student council.
After graduating, Sasaki worked a range of jobs, including operating a restaurant. She became exhausted as she worked day and night and experienced hardships in her private life.