We recently connected with Misaki Saito and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Misaki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always been profoundly guided by Albert Einstein’s timeless quote: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” These words have guided me on my journey through various art disciplines and my professional start as a classical pianist.

After a post-high school solo recital in Japan, I became close with an audience member with a passion for music who would later be one of my strongest supporters. He even acquired a piano which could record and reproduce my own playing just so he could continue enjoying it while I was abroad.

Just a few years after, I returned from college only to discover this father figure – who had hid his cancer diagnosis – had departed from this world. Despite this loss, his wife offered her sincere gratitude to me, saying that: “I cannot thank you enough for what you brought to his life. He cherished meeting you during his final years, finding comfort in your music until his last breath.” I was told that he was listening to my recordings until the very end.

With this, I was raised out from my longtime struggle with confidence. It revealed the profound impact art can have. I resolved to pursue music professionally, aspiring to offer meaning and solace through my art to others, just as I had done for him. He illuminated the purpose of my creative journey – to comfort, console, and create a difference through the power of art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Misaki Saito, a classically-trained pianist, photographer, and founder of the non-profit project heARTists. Although I focused primarily on solo piano through my education, I took pride in diverse experiences that included ballet, figure-ice skating, Japanese traditional dance, voice, musical theater, ping-pong, youth aviation school, video gaming, mountain climbing, and much more. I was also homeschool for many years, and had experienced extensive periods of bullying and abuse. These experiences are the foundation from which heARTists was born.

heARTists encourages individuals we call ‘survivors’ to share stories of hardship. Their narratives directly inspire our collective of artists to create original works of art, which are gifted back to the storytellers free-of-charge. Our mission is to use the transformative power of art as a tool for healing and growth, aiming to benefit survivors and artists alike.

By providing a platform for the unvoiced, we aspire to improve societal awareness of crucial issues such as mental health and abuse. We aim to bridge the gap between those who would use art as a means to empower but may not have the means, and those that do. Whether you have a story to share or are an artist, we invite you to join our community. Everyone is welcome 🙂.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The mindset of singular focus and mastery was deeply ingrained in me due to the competitive music school experience. While I hold immense admiration for those who maintain unwavering dedication to a single discipline, I have chosen instead the path of diverse interests, believing that each forms an integral facet of my life.

At USC, my graduate studies exposed me to further possibilities, unconstrained by traditional boundaries. Where earlier I would have been shy about my inability to commit to a single field of study, now I was met with warmth and encouragement. This was the pivotal moment that led to the birth of heARTists, which in many ways is the culmination of all my experiences. heARTists is unconfined to any single art form, embracing dance, visual arts, photography, theater, and beyond. The broader one’s knowledge spans, the greater the capacity to forge connections. As Steve Jobs’ related during his Stanford commencement address “Connecting the Dots”, this synthesis of experiences can yield the most profoundly positive impact.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Have you ever noticed how the advice you give to others often resonates within yourself? It’s a sentiment I’ve experienced firsthand. In this interview, I’ve consistently emphasized the value of every individual’s voice and the importance of fostering a beautiful, supportive community. This emphasis stems from my personal journey of grappling with feelings of unworthiness and insecurity for many years. Even in my darkest moments, when I battled suicidal thoughts, art became my lifeline, offering both solace and an escape.

The heartening responses from survivors, whose stories have inspired our artwork, reaffirm the profound impact of art’s ability to touch lives. I firmly believe in the arts as a means of direct, intangible connection. Through heARTists, our mission is to cultivate a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels acknowledged, understood, and never alone. This is a place where the synergy of art and storytelling unites us, enriching our lives collectively.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://officialheartists.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialheartists/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialheARTists/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareheartists
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChjyBpIBmyg1moCyksZ6KYw

Image Credits
Kevin Hsu, Kenji Miyazawa