Artists' lives are seldom easy, but the reality they face in Japan can be particularly daunting.
Government or social support is practically unheard of, and simply finding a space to show work can present a financial nightmare. With Tokyo's most coveted gallery spaces commanding astronomical weekly rental fees, most artists end up putting in endless hours at part-time jobs just to afford the opportunity to exhibit their work.
Art enthusiast Kazuko Aso thought this situation was absurd, and became determined to do something about it. Born in Tokyo, Aso fondly remembers the weekends she spent exploring the galleries of Ginza with her father, an avid collector of oil paintings.