A Lost Father. A Discovered Legacy.
The Life and Prints of Kouji Ochiai, Brought to the World by His Son.
Kouji Ochiai — once known as a reclusive artist — lost his life in a fire.
He had spent decades withdrawn from his family, painting in solitude at the far end of their property.
When the flames subsided, all that remained were ashes—and over a thousand works of art.
But to his son, Yosuke, these paintings weren’t a gift.
They were remnants of a broken family, memories he had long buried.
“Do you wish to inherit the works, or relinquish them?”
It was a simple legal form—but to Yosuke, it was something deeper.
Could he face the man who left them behind, and all the scars that came with him?
To find the answer, Yosuke—a veteran television director—began a personal journey.
He visited over 80 people who had known his father.
He read through dozens of journals and cried over the words he found.
What emerged was not a cold man—but someone who simply didn’t know how to love.
“There’s not a single lie in my paintings.
When I surrendered myself to the universe, I found light.
And that light, I believe, will illuminate your path.”
Kouji Ochiai had once studied in Spain, working alongside artists like Joan Miró.
In his later years, he poured his spirit into the art of printmaking—especially in pieces like “Water Mirror” and “Wind Mirror.”
These works don’t speak loudly.
They whisper to the soul.
And that’s why Yosuke feels compelled to share them.
“They weren’t what destroyed our family.
They were his wordless prayers—to heal someone. Maybe even himself.”
This Kickstarter campaign features carefully selected prints from his father’s collection.
Each one is respectfully reproduced and signed where possible—
not simply as “rewards,” but as quiet offerings from a man who never learned how to say goodbye.
Yosuke now delivers them into the hands of others—
so the healing they once tried to offer him, might now reach someone else.
Today, Kouji’s once-cherished studio is falling apart.
The roof leaks, mold spreads across the walls, and the floor is nearly collapsed.
But Yosuke doesn’t want to “preserve” the space—
he wants to transform it.
Into a sanctuary for children who feel like outsiders.
Into a space for people with disabilities to express themselves.
Into a cradle for young artists chasing uncertain dreams.
Through digital means like NFTs, or through educational collaborations,
he hopes to create a cycle where art does more than heal—it gives back.
“To some, my father’s legacy may look like a burden.
But I believe it’s hope.
And I’m ready to carry it forward.”
Kouji’s name contains the character for “clear light,” like that of the moon.
It was his mother’s wish that he would shine quietly.
Yosuke’s name was his father’s hope: to live brightly, like the sun of Spain.
They were like the moon and the sun—celestial bodies under the same sky, never meeting.
But now Yosuke understands:
“The moon only shines because it reflects the sun.
And the sun offers its light, even in the darkest night.”
From now on, he chooses to shine his light upon the shadows his father left behind.
So that someone—somewhere—might find quiet healing in a single painting.
Please—
Lend us a little of your light, too.
Let this project become a gentle journey from one heart to another.
Media Contact
Company Name: InterDD,LLC
Contact Person: Takami Sueyoshi
Email: Send Email
Phone: 720-412-1250
Address:1001 Wolf Creek Dr.
City: Longmont
State: Colorado
Country: United States
Website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1561310332/from-flames-my-fathers-paintings-whisper-through-time
