Japan 1956 - 1960

Tokyo Years

After graduating from high school, Kubota decided to pursue the path of becoming an artist and entered Tokyo University of Education (currently Tsukuba University)―majoring in sculpture. She apprenticed to sculptor Kiyoshi Takahashi, also from Niigata, and submitted her works to the annual exhibitions of the Shinseisaku Society, of which Takahashi was a member. The photographs of her submitted works show the transition in which her sculptural heads gradually became more abstracted.

Chronology Tokyo Years

1956
■ [Mar.] Graduated from Naoetsu High School.
■ [Apr.] Entered Tokyo University of Education and majored in sculpture. Joined the student movement.

1958
■ [Sept. 22‒Oct. 10 ] Sculpture Kubi A entered the 22nd Shinseisaku Exhibition (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum).

1959
■ [May 26‒June 7] Received an encouragement award for Shiseki at the 14th Niigata Prefectural Art Exhibition (Kobayashi Department Store, Niigata).

1960
■ [Mar.] Graduated from Tokyo University of Education.
■ [Apr.] Started teaching at 2nd Ebara Middle School in Shinagawa-Ward, Tokyo.
■ [After April] Stayed with her aunt and dancer Chiya Kuni and befriended members of Group Ongaku and other artists through Chiya Kuni Dance Institute.