The Tokyo Midtown Koinobori event is a yearly Children’s Day celebration featuring colorful carp-shaped windsocks. Held at Tokyo Midtown, it offers cultural activities and exhibitions, blending tradition with the modern Tokyo vibe—perfect for families and visitors alike.
My Koinobori illustration blends memories from my childhood and adulthood. The left koi reflects my trip to Sweden with firsts like snow and the Northern Lights, while the right koi recalls my simpler childhood in the Philippines, with memories of dragonflies, kites, and my mom's farming roots.
Adobe Illustrator
Reference photos
This project feels especially personal because both sides of the fish are based on reference photos that mean a lot to me. These references hold such strong memories, and it felt meaningful to bring them together in this piece.
Top Reference Images (winter):
The snow angel and cabin come from a core memory in my adulthood — it's a photo of me and my boyfriend making snow angels during a trip in Sweden that really stuck with me.
Bottom Reference Images (summer):
Childhood photos of me and my sister in the Philippines. We were often dressed in blue and pink, which inspired the colors I used for the characters.
Tokyo Midtown Gallery
My friends from Japan! <3
Close up photos of the fins
