Recent art-school graduate Yuzo Shimomura was looking as uncomfortable as the collar of his shirt, which had flared up above his jacket lapel. It was clear they both wanted to be somewhere else.
But that was not to be. The Aichi Prefecture-native had made the trip to Tokyo to watch as one of his paintings was auctioned in the Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program, the latest CSR (corporate social responsibility) program at the giant trading company.
"Yes, I'm very nervous," Shimomura admitted, as he explained his painting of dandelions to potential bidders.