The exhibition on this occasion required you to create a piece of your own based on the theme of another person's work. Did you have any difficulty from that perspective?

There was an element of that. Of course, I read the picture book that formed the theme for this year's exhibition, from which I developed an image for my own piece of work. However, when I found that thinking on my own was not sufficient, I was fortunate enough to be able to consult with Ms. Dohi, and the staff at Nissan. From friendly and intimate talks with the team at Nissan, new ideas emerged. In addition, I had the benefit of being told to "do exactly as you please," which always facilitates the creative process.

Also, just prior to starting work on the exhibit, I had been on holiday to Spain and my head was still full of images of Spain (laughs). If you look at the work, you can find images of Spanish streets and "trails" dotted here and there.

What were the challenges in going about this work?

One of the challenges is of course utilizing waste materials. A waste material that is featured a great deal in the completed work is interior sheeting for vehicles. This sheeting tends to be in subdued colors, and this means that the finished work could also end up looking rather insipid and washed out. For this reason, I used a variety of other materials including paints and colored tape and string to elicit a fun and vivacious atmosphere. In this way, as the creator of the piece, I was faced with a number of challenges and trials in racking my brain to come up with ideas that could be used to create an interesting piece of work from limited resources and conditions.

What were your thoughts on seeing the completed exhibition this time?

What really surprised me was that the items created by the children in the workshop actually flowed out into the corridors. This is an event in which visitors can participate in making things. There was an empty space underneath my picture and it was planned that the works created by visitors to the exhibition would be attached below my piece. I was really overwhelmed that this year the pieces created in the workshop did not merely frame my picture, but they extended out around the exhibition venue in its entirety.

What is more, the children seemed to be having a really good time, and I was delighted to see them with their eyes lit up with enthusiasm as they worked on their pictures. Children at that age take pleasure in every small little thing. I would like for people to not forget that childhood enthusiasm even when they become adults.

What was it you were seeking to convey through this event?

What I wanted was for people to find joy and excitement in creating things with their own hands. We are in a world that is brimful of material goods and we can find virtually anything ready made. However, I believe that what really nurtures imaginative powers is not to merely buy a finished item, but instead to experience the fun and joy of making something with your own hands.

As Mr. Carlos Ghosn of Nissan himself once said, "the joy of picture books is to make the unmoving pictures jump to life by using your imagination." My hope was for my picture to help visitors to the exhibition experience the world of the picture book.

Tell us what you feel about Nissan, which organized the exhibition, and the CSR activities in which Nissan is engaged.

Nissan's CSR activities are truly wonderful. Through the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix, Nissan is seeking to nurture a new generation of authors. In addition, this event provides young authors with an opportunity to display their work, and it also plays a role in nurturing the imaginative powers of children's minds. I sincerely hope that Nissan will carry on with its good work in this area.