Yumiko Kayukawa grew up in the small town of Naie in Hokkaido, Japan. In this pristine, natural surroundings, she found her love of animals and nature which later became an important theme of her work. As she grew up, Yumiko drew inspirations from American pop culture such as Rock & Roll, film and fashion. These influences are fused with modern and traditional Japanese motifs to create her unique style.
Yumiko’s debut as an artist was with a Manga feature when she was just 16. She later attended and graduated from Bisen Art School in Sapporo, Japan. She lives in Seattle, Washington since 2005.