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Boy in Blue Jacket explores Akio's interest in children. Children have always been a recurring theme in his work. He often talked about the Japanese term Karako, the depiction of children as metaphor for youth. Akio saw children as a signifier of optimism, where ideas and energies have boundless potential. In 2013, during a visit to NYC, Akio saw a show of Matisse's work at MOMA. It was after this visit that he began to use brighter colors in his glazing. As you can see, the blue jacket really activates the surface and i a nice juxtaposition with the vertical striping of the boy's socks. There is also a real sweetness to the facial expression.