Japanese Artist Finds Peace in Cutting Leaves

01A Japanese artist who creates detailed designs on fallen leaves says the process gives the leaves new life and also helps keep him healthy.

02The artist goes by the name Lito.

03He did not want to share his full name for personal reasons.

04Lito likes to cut or carve many different leaf designs.

05Examples of his work include a frog holding an umbrella, animals jumping happily, Japan's famous Mount Fuji, and ocean waves.

06Lito began making his leaf art in 2020.

07Now he has many fans around the world who discovered his designs on social media.

08He recently told reporters from the Associated Press that his work also gives him peaceful feelings to help deal with a health issue.

09The condition Lito struggles with is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD.

10People with ADHD can experience difficulties such as mental focus, directing attention, and organizing and controlling urges.

11The 38-year-old Lito said that in addition to helping him deal with his own issues, he hopes his art can give other people enjoyment as well.

12Lito likes working at night.

13In a demonstration of his process, he showed that he first treats several leaves with a chemical to keep them from drying out.

14Then he chooses the one he wants to work with and places it on a cutting surface.

15He begins by making a design on the leaf with a pen.

16He then uses a special design knife to cut the leaf.

17As he works slowly and carefully, one leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella.

18Some of Lito's more complex creations on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.

19He said he likes to finish a leaf in one sitting.

20His leaf cutting works include titles such as Scrolls of Frolicking Animals, Leaf Aquarium, and 36 Views of Mount Fuji, the Great Wave off Kanagawa.

21He often uses animals as his subject, and each piece includes some of his own personal elements.

22Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience.

23But no matter how hard he tried, he felt he could not meet expectations of behavior at school and work.

24He also struggled to understand others' feelings and to avoid conflict.

25After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis he felt explained why he has always done things differently.

26Lito said he saw no reason to force himself to do things the same way as other people.

27So he decided to change his way of living.

28In early 2020, Lito learned about the art of leaf cutting.

29He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.

30Word of his skill has spread far across social media, and he has published books on his leaf cutting work.

31And, almost every month, he holds a showing of his art in different places in Japan.

32If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more.

33That's my driving force for what's next, Lito said.

34I'm Jill Robbins.

35I'm Jill Robbins.

36I'm Jill Robbins.

37I'm Jill Robbins.

38I'm Jill Robbins.