OBie & AuujeeBok
OBie is a graphic artist who grew up on Yakushima Island and spent years working as an actor based in the United States.
Born in Tokyo and exposed to an English-speaking environment from an early age, he later grew up surrounded by the rich nature of Yakushima.
During high school, he placed second nationwide in a Japanese English speech contest. In his twenties, he moved to the U.S. alone, starting his journey in Las Vegas, where he studied acting, language, and culture. He later relocated to Los Angeles and continued working as an actor in both stage and screen projects.
His work extended beyond Los Angeles to local projects in Las Vegas, as well as productions in Vancouver, Canada, and Florida. Over approximately eight years abroad, he continued to engage in creative environments while navigating cultural and linguistic boundaries.
As an actor, he appeared in around 60 works, including multiple films nominated at international film festivals. His work has been featured in approximately 20 media outlets worldwide, including HuffPost. In 2016, he was involved in the live stage production of America's Got Talent as a stage assistant for magician HARA, and also worked as an English pronunciation coach for talent during film recordings.
Following his return to Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, he experienced depression and panic disorder, which made daily life difficult. On days when his condition allowed, he gradually returned to small acts of creation—drawing, experimenting with colors, engaging with space and plants.
Today, he leads the graphic art brand AuujeeBok, exploring expressions that visualize the process of recovery and creation. This practice serves as a new stage for expressing his identity beyond acting.
Looking ahead, OBie aims to create an atelier that welcomes people—a place where artists and creators from Japan and abroad can gather, connect, and generate new forms of collaboration.
