"Suigen (Water Source)" (2001) by Tsuneo Nakaune

A joint exhibition of nihonga (traditional Japanese-style painting) by Haruko and Tsuneo Nakaune will open June 19 at the Ginza Church Tokyo Gospel Fellowship Center. Readers may already know Haruko from her "Word Play" cartoons on The Japan Times' Friday bilingual page.

This will be the couple's second joint exhibition, featuring 40 works -- 15 paintings by Tsuneo and 25 miniature paintings by Haruko. Haruko's paintings portray children playing, while Tsuneo's depict the beauty of nature.

The couple met at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where they both studied nihonga. They then both went on to graduate school, where Tsuneo majored in nihonga and Haruko studied the copying and restoration of paintings.

After graduation, they participated in the restoration of fusuma (paper sliding door) paintings at Zuizanji Temple in Miyagi Prefecture.

"Midori no Saka (Green Hill)" (2001) by Haruko Nakaune

The couple have also exhibited in group exhibitions, and Tsuneo has held solo exhibitions since 1988. In 1999, they hosted their first joint exhibition.