Entering her 40s, Sanae felt the shock of physical and emotional change, followed by confusion, reflection, and eventually calm. This collection follows that journey: early works unsettled and questioning, then gradually embracing quiet confidence.

In Japanese, the word wabi once expressed the quiet sadness of having little, or the melancholy of samurai who, despite years of effort, never found success. They were described as wabishii –  their shoulders carrying not just sorrow, but the weight of experience. Silent, yet beautiful. Though it may sound heavy, there is deep strength within it.

True elegance and sophistication arise through both success and failure – through acceptance. The weight we carry becomes part of our grace.

This piece embodies that idea with subtle layers and a quiet composition, rooted in experience and expressing the calm return of confidence.