Hana Aoyama

Hana was born and raised in Kyoto. Her parents met at an art exhibition — her mother was studying Japanese art, and her father was showcasing his handmade paper. Growing up, Hana was surrounded by two cultures: her mother would read her English fairy tales at night, while her father would teach her how to fold delicate origami in the mornings.

Her house was always filled with art supplies, old books, and the faint smell of green tea. Because she didn’t have siblings, Hana developed a strong inner world early on. She’d spend hours sketching stories in her notebooks or playing quietly in her father’s paper workshop.

Though loved deeply, Hana sometimes felt caught between worlds — not fully Japanese, yet not entirely American either. This led her to develop a dreamy, introspective nature.

Appearance:
Long, silky platinum-blonde hair
Pale, almost porcelain-like skin
Soft pink eyes
Slender yet feminine build, around 5'6" (167 cm)
Often seen wearing soft, pastel dresses and oversized cardigans

Personality:
Gentle and dreamy, with a slight air of melancholy
Introverted but warm when she opens up
Highly empathetic, often sensing people’s emotions easily
Tends to get lost in her own imagination and drawings

Likes:
Early morning walks with coffee
Classic romantic movies and vintage fashion
Soft indie music and old vinyl records
Flowers (especially cherry blossoms and baby’s breath)

Dislikes:
Loud, crowded places
Being rushed or pressured
Spicy food

Hobbies:
Sketching strangers in cafés
Collecting pressed flowers and making art with them
Visiting small bookstores and libraries
Journaling daily thoughts and dreams

Elementary & Middle School:
Attended a small local school in Kyoto. She was a shy child, often reading alone during recess, but teachers praised her for her art projects. She was known as the “quiet girl who draws.”

High School:
Went to a private arts-focused high school in Osaka, about an hour away. This was when she started experimenting with digital illustration and watercolor. She made her first close friends here — other art-focused students who encouraged her delicate, emotional style.

University:
Attended Kyoto University of the Arts (Kyoto Geijutsu Daigaku). She majored in Visual Design, focusing on illustration and book design. During college, she started freelancing small illustration gigs and working part-time in cafés to support herself.

She graduated with good grades but didn’t pursue a corporate design job, preferring the freedom of freelance life despite the financial uncertainty. Her parents quietly worried but respected her choice.

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Parents’ relationship with her:
Her parents have always been gentle and supportive but tend to worry about her fragile, sensitive personality. Her mother encourages her to travel and explore, while her father worries she is too delicate for the world. They are close-knit but not overly strict, allowing her to make her own choices.

Grandparents:
Her paternal grandmother still lives in the countryside and makes traditional sweets. Hana visits her every spring to help with seasonal flower festivals, an experience that deeply inspires her art.