[Japanese Side] Talent Discovered at 70... 76-Year-Old Grandfather Becomes Star with Tissue Craft

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Until what age can the phrase "You seem talented, why not give it a try?" be applicable? In the world of arts and sports, people say it’s already too late if you start in elementary school, and many feel reassured only after completing years of advanced study. However, recently on Japanese social networking services (SNS), a completely different story has become a hot topic. A 76-year-old grandfather who makes anything out of tissue paper rose to stardom, and it turns out he discovered his talent at the age of 70.

Today, we share the story of Takashi Fujita, a 76-year-old tissue craft artist who discovered his talent at 70 and became a star.

Mr. Takashi Fujita explaining his artwork made of tissue paper. (Photo by Takashi Fujita, Instagram)

Takashi Fujita is the owner of a "karaoke kissa," a combination of a caf? and karaoke, in Hiroshima. After closing the business due to COVID-19, he now uses the space as an exhibition hall. The shop displays over 1,000 tissue craft works he has created so far. His diverse works have attracted attention, including a 160cm-tall model of Himeji Castle, a Japanese cultural heritage site, made entirely of tissue paper, including the stone walls, and painted with watercolors.

Fujita was not initially skilled at tissue craft. Around the age of 70, an elderly regular customer lamented, "I really want to see cherry blossoms, but my legs hurt so much that I can’t go." Although the real cherry blossoms were out of reach, Fujita thought about making fake cherry blossoms to show the customer on their next visit. He tried various materials and eventually stumbled upon tissue paper. He became deeply fascinated by its softness and ease of handling. Through this, he created dozens of works and became fully immersed in 'tissue art.'

A bonsai made of tissue by Mr. Fujita. (Photo by Takashi Fujita on Instagram)

As word of his talent spread, Fujita began giving lectures teaching tissue art at elementary schools, and customers started visiting his caf? again. However, he ultimately could not escape the impact of COVID-19. He had to close the shop, and opportunities to exhibit his work disappeared.

It was Fujita’s grandson who once again took notice of his talent. The grandson suggested, "Why not post on Instagram?" At 73, Fujita bought a smartphone, created an Instagram account, and began posting content with his wife filming and himself providing explanations.

Instagram posts uploaded by Mr. Fujita. Most focus on the process of creating tissue art. (Photo by Takashi Fujita on Instagram)

Initially, the videos mainly introduced how to make tissue paper artworks, but the response was lukewarm. Then, he boldly added motion effects, such as videos of cherry blossom petals fluttering, which garnered 50,000 views. His works were introduced worldwide through the algorithm, and nowadays, it’s common to see comments in English or Spanish, showing that he has fans from many countries.

Fujita told NHK, "Even if words don’t get through, charm does," and added, "My dream is for people all over the world to see my works and smile."

Fujita embarked on a new path in life by discovering his talent at 70. Is age important when it comes to expressing talent? The fear of "What can I do at this age?" seemed to mean nothing to Fujita.