
Some of the contents from the book.


The book will be published next year. I am very grateful for the opportunity:-)
Love, Yoshika
Please visit my official Art blog at:
http://blog.euphorianchic.com










If you are interested in the event, you can visit the website http://japandaynyc.org/main/
There are some videos, including "how to do BonOdori" which is quite funny, actually.
Love, Yoshika










"Thank you so much, Queen Anne's Lace..."
Queen Anne was thinking in her heart all the time...
Flying over Le pré d'Anges looking over the thousands of Queen Anne's lace, she was so grateful for the giving gift that she got from the flower today.
White flowers of Queen Anne's lace were gently waiving in a summer breeze.
"You're very welcome... Queen Anne..."
Queen Anne felt like Queen Anne's Lace just wispered the words back to her ears...

Queen Anne was thinking how she could help their birdy kingdom to be more loving place. So, she created a simple, but a kind of special masquerade, which is, all guests, both singles and couples, must show up without a date, and all girls must wear Queen Anne's Lace.
Since all girls, all boys are all look alike, especially for singles, they have to express their unique qualities in order to impress their ideal mate. And for couples, after spending winter apart, they often rediscover their good qualities, and fall in love with each other all over again.
Some sing their favorite songs,
some read their poetry,
some show of their dance steps,
some show of their spinning flying skills in the sky,
and, some simply try to impress their ideal mate with a nice talk with great sense of humor....
Many happy new couples (including gay couples) are born during this masquerade every year. Also, since this masquerade started several years ago, the divorce rate has been dramatically decreased. Queen Anne couldn't be happier about it!
And after its consecutive successful years, now some (singles) call it "Match-Maker Ball", some (couples) call it "Let's-Rekindle-Love Ball" or "Make-Up & Make-Out Ball."
Thus, the masquerade lasts all day long until the sunset.
Today, Queen Anne is also all dressed up with Queen Anne's Lace, watching over other birds from the branch of her castle tree. She is feeling very happy seeing everybody having a wonderful time.
"It's about time......"
The one that Queen Anne is waiting for is of course her beloved James.
Although both Queen Anne and King James are busy watching everybody most of times, at the end of the masquerade, they are always saving the last dance for each other. So, Queen Anne can not wait for the sunset.
While having the last dance with James who is behind a mask, somehow he looks much more handsome than usual. And she always falls in love with him all over again...
Queen Anne even wonders how or why she always feels like that during the dance. It is as if she returned to a little girl...
But, according to what others say, the similar thing seems to be happening to many of them at the masquerade.
And now everybody has started saying,
"That's the magic of Queen Anne's Masquerade..."
Queen Anne is actually loving it very much.
She was still waiting for the arrival of James remembering the magical moment again.
And she quietly said to herself a little prayer, and sent it to the sky as always.
"Whether it is a magic or not, may the masquerade be successful, may the kingdom be a more and more loving place...."
Of course.....this time, with a smile of young girl on her face....

Love, Yoshika



Under The Queen Anne’s Lace...
クイーンアンは今も覚えています。
あれは初夏のそよ風が心地よい、とてもきれいな夕暮れのこと。。。
美しいクイーンアンのレースの花に見守られながら、
二人は初めてのキスを交わしました。
「夕日が私の真っ赤な顔を隠してくれますように。。。」
クイーンアンは心の中で願っていました。
Queen Anne still remembers...
On a breezy day of early summer, being surrounded by beautiful flowers of Queen Anne's Lace,
King James kissed Queen Anne for the first time.
Queen Anne was secretly wishing the sunset would hide her blushed cheeks...



Covert:
Narration is written in both Japanese and English (though they are slightly different and excuse me if there are English mistakes.) If you would like this entry to make more sense, please read the stories behind Queen Anne and Queen Anne's lace illustration series, vol.1~3 first.
「見いつけた!」
今年初めての芽を見つけたクイーンアンはうれしさを隠せません。
長くて寒い冬もようやく終わり、クイーンアンの待ち望んだ春がようやくやってきました.
クイーンアンの友達もうれしくて空でダンスをしています。
「もうすぐね。。。」
小さな芽達も、すくすく育ち、すぐに沢山の花を咲かせることでしょう。
クイーンアンの心の中も、もう、大好きなクイーンアンのレースの花でいっぱいです。
クイーンアンの心は少しどきどきしてきました。
何故なら、クイーンアンのレースの花が咲き始める頃、大好きなジェームスやみんなにまた会えるからです。
"Oh...finally!!"
Queen Anne couldn't contain her excitement when she found this year's first sprout on the ground.
After a long cold winter, spring has finally come!
The air is still cold, but the warmth of the sunlight surely shows the arrival of spring.
Queen Anne's friends also get excited, and started to dance in the sky as well.
"It will be soon..."
This small sprouts will grow bigger and bigger everyday, the meadow will be covered with all green, and soon, there will be a lot of flowers all around!
Queen Anne can not help imagining the blossom of her favorite flower, Queen Anne's Lace on her mind.
"See you soon..."
Queen Anne said to herself quietly.
Her face turned pink, and her heart also started to pound faster a little bit.
She can not wait to see the white flowers of Queen Anne's lace start to open up.
























Sorry, I have probably left out some of them..... but I'm sending lots of love & gratitude:-) to all. Thank you so much!
Love, Yoshika