# Trying to find this Japanese artist

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** arts-crafts\
**Created:** [December 25, 2021, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641 "2021-12-25T21:59:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/1 "2021-12-25T21:59:32Z")

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A long time back (maybe 30-35 years) the art of a young Japanese girl was featured in Smithsonian Magazine. At about 10 years old she was considered a prodigy, making watercolors of mostly animals, I think. I can’t remember her name and I can’t find anything after extensive searching. The magazine doesn’t seem to have readily available archives, at least not for non-subscribers.

Anybody recognize this and can come up with a name?

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**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/2 "2021-12-26T02:04:36Z")

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Wang Yani?

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/3 "2021-12-26T04:35:47Z")

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[![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/80/0c/e2/800ce2b968e8b5c48a00348829271f54.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/80/0c/e2/800ce2b968e8b5c48a00348829271f54.jpg)

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/4 "2021-12-26T04:41:39Z")

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Looks like you could buy it on eBay,

[https://www.ebay.com/itm/384540395533](https://www.ebay.com/itm/384540395533)

or check local university libraries for the September 1989 issue.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/5 "2021-12-26T07:13:55Z")

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Try Tokyo.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-this-japanese-artist/956641/6 "2021-12-26T14:00:08Z")

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That is brilliant. I searched for “Smithsonian Magazine Japanese child prodigy art” and nothing like this came up. I had incorrectly remembered her as Japanese rather than Chinese, which I guess was the problem.

Thanks so much for this.