下條ユリさんのインスタグラム写真 - (下條ユリInstagram)「🌸 武士道と中野竹子と芸事とメメントモリと#東日本大震災　 Nakano Takeko died at the age of 21 as a leader of the Girls' Army of #AizuClan of Fukushima, my ancestors. Her combatants fought independently at the Battle of Aizu in 1868, which led to the end of Samurai era. She was also a poet. Her death poem was tied up to her #naginata Japanese pole sword "I would not dare to count myself among all the famous warriors - even though I share the same braveheart." The balance between martial art and art was important for Samurai education for both boys and girls. Daughters of Samurai also received combat training as well as creative activities, such as painting, music, literature, dance, calligraphy, poetry, flower-arranging, and the tea ceremony. My father grew up with strict samurai discipline during Japanese imperialism. He couldn't keep this balance because he was a pacifist who devoted himself to be a #vaudevillian He was disowned by family many times. He gave up his dream and ended up with his family practice, to be a dentist. Since I was a little girl I practiced classic performing arts. I started to dance at #Noh theater when I was 3 yrs old because my grandmother was a Noh chant master. #能 #謡曲 My parents never took me to the art museums, but they always took me to their “art practice" which were basically their parties and most of the times it was unconventional. I don't have any Fine Arts degrees, but my "Art Schools" have started very early in life with my deceased family. February 2011, I was heartbroken and too tired to keep sobbing. I needed to be strong. Then “a voice" told me to read "#Bushido Way of Samurai" to learn about the strength of Women Warriors. Next month, on #311 , The Tohoku Earthquake,Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster in Fukushima occurred. When I heard Sakura blossoming amid the debris in the area as symbols of hope and resilience, I started to paint again. I don't want to sound like too much new-age hippies but I believe some divine spirits woven by the serendipities made me paint 5 paintings of life cycles #YuriShimojo_MementoMori #NakanoTakeko is one of them who taught me the graceful strength. #中野竹子 #会津藩士 #武士道　 #ちいさならくがき　 #下條ユリメメントモリ」2月21日 13時28分