Artistry In Tokyo: A Ying Yang Tale

Chapter 1-Welcome to my World

Life is unpredictable in many types of ways; my life is one of them. For as long as I could remember it has always been hard for me to find the meaning of it. That is until I lived it to understand its true meaning. My name is Ying Yang, and this is my story.

Growing up you can expect life to be easy, for some it is, but not for me.

I grew up in the poor parts of Okinawa, Japan with parents that didn't love me. Who treated me with disrespect and abused me any chance they got. I enjoyed doing art and I was really good at it; but kept it under a low profile, especially when my main job is planting rice along with my unloving parents.

Even when they searched for a job elsewhere, while blaming me for their unsuccess in obtaining one, they got lucky though. Who knew that one faithful day an Art County Fair would be out on a lookout to find the next level art creation, and that low profile project that I kept under wraps in our outdoor shed would be discovered and taken to be entered.

When you love doing something, but don't get the credit for doing so it hurts, especially, when you have to witness your parent's life get better. After the project actually won and not only did my parents got better jobs, but I became their little art creation slave rat. Leaving me not only to plant rice and maintain whatever household they left me, but I had to create the projects that were assigned to them for them to create; but they made me do it and to explain what it is made of, how it works, and what it's main purpose is.

They created a business in Korea, they gave me a bank card, so that I could buy the supplies that I needed to get the project done, but other than that my parents monitored all the transactions on what I spent the money on.

They would come back and visit to see how production and the process of the projects was coming along. They would also come back with bodyguards, who took on the role of abusing me and to punish me; however, my parents saw fit. Usually the punishments would be so great that I ended up in the hospital a couple of times and surprisingly they would waste money to help me get better; but that didn't last long. As soon as I got better, they would throw me back into the production line and not let me rest or eat until I made-up for the lost time. I was thankful when they had to go back to their company in Korea.

I tried many times to run away from all the torment and unfairness that went on for 10 years of my life, I was always found and dragged back into the pit of hell that I had to call home. But I believe in two things that nothing lasts forever, and in the end, everyone pays the price. This did come true when I heard that my parents died in a car crash on their way to a meeting. The company went up for grabs, lots of money was also up for debate on who got it, and what to do with me at the time.

I was left with nothing no inheritance, no parents, and no home. I was 15 when I did eventually move to Tokyo, Japan to live with my grandmother named Shinju-Rin, that I didn't even know I had. With years living with my cruel parents, who never told me anything. No wonder, she hated them too, and never made any contact with them, but when she heard over the news that they were in a car accident, and that they both have passed away and left me behind; she took me in, and I was never so happy in my life.

When I moved in, I was uneasy and afraid that anything I did wrong would result in a painful punishment. Instead, she treated me with kindness and confection which, I never experienced before, I didn't even know it existed.

Because of the trauma that my parents caused me, I started having panic attacks, when I did something wrong or when I thought I did something wrong. It took me a year to get used to living with my grandmother. I would also have morning panic attacks, where I would wake up and not know where I am. Every time I would have a panic attack, she would be there to calm me down and to tell me that everything is going to be alright. As time went on I got used to living with my grandmother where when I woke up, I wasn't greeted with hard stone-cold floors with nothing but a ragged piece of cloth as a blanket to keep me warm during the night, but instead, in their place was a clean warm bed with soft, clean pillows, and clean warm blankets. Instead of table scraps for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; I got to eat real nutritious, hot delicious food made with love.

I would also be rewarded for doing tasks that didn't require me to do very heavy labor but instead I did light labor such as laundry, taking out the trash, occasional house cleaning, cooking, and gardening. She would take me out shopping at stores to restaurants or bakeries, local museums or aquariums which I never knew such wonders existed.

When it came to holidays that I never celebrated with my parents. I thought they were fascinating especially when it came time to celebrate my birthday and since it was my first birthday that I ever celebrated; she threw me a party at her apartment with a cake, presents, delicious food, good company.

After I turned 16, I decided to look for a job. I applied my resume to different companies and since I had the talent for art, I dared to apply for an art company called The National Art Center Tokyo, which to my surprise I got accepted after I completed the interview. I was overjoyed by the news since, the company I got accepted for was one of the most famous art companies in the world; it is really hard to get accepted there. After I passed the interview, I began working at the top floor of the building where I got my own closed office cubicle along with access to random art supplies, but this job consisted of me buying the supplies I needed for specific projects that we had to do not only for the Tokyo Art fair where people would come and take a gander at what we create, but people who are from around the world who come to look and buy whatever they like.

Some of the time there were investors who have to come and choose an artist based on their previous creations to create their own special artworks. Ying got used to working there he made good money, did something that he enjoyed, Ying even made some friends called Mei Lin and Shuji Nakamura who were always nice and a pleasure to be around with. The only problem with my job was his boss or in other words his Chief Operating Officer. Who was in charge of everything while the actual boss was away on expanding his business elsewhere. His name is Shoichi Kyong, when Ying started working for the company, he thought of Ying as a thorn in his side and Shoichi hated him and made Ying's life a living hell. Ying didn't let Shoichi get to him though; and just did his best, but even that wasn't enough. He was also bullied by other coworkers, who also didn't like Ying and were jealous of him, but that didn't stop Ying from trying harder. Five years passed and Ying got accustomed to both the working environment conditions and the bullying from both his boss and coworkers.

But unfortunately, like Ying said before, good things never last. Coming back from work one night and nonchalantly Ying greeted his grandmother that he was home and heard no answer. He tried calling her again but still no answer; Ying started checking all over the house until tragically he found her, she was passed out in the garden. Ying called 911; but when they got there, she was pronounced dead. Ying was heartbroken at the news and for the fact that she was the only person that showed him kindness. She did of course leave a Will and Ying was in it. She left him the house, her money, and anything else that was on the premises. As flattering and kind as it was, Ying still really missed her, and thought of her every day.

Of course, Ying didn't let that stand in his way of work or in his career and Ying knew of course he had to move on. After Ying went to her funeral, he tried his best not to fall into depression, which he succeeded.

At the funeral Ying met an old woman named Choyo-Yoon who was a friend of his grandmother. She introduced him to her small haven that was a sanctuary for foxes. She taught Ying how to take care of them and that it became his special place to visit since the foxes actually really loved him and were really happy to see Ying when he came to visit. Ying continued living his life by working, taking care of his new responsibilities after the death of his grandmother, and visiting his happy special place.