He took up residence in Spain in 1994 as an overseas art schlorship under a program of Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. During his sojourn there, he was awarded First Prize in an international painting competition sponsored by the Barcelo Foundation and launched into full-fledged activity as a professional artist. "Sin estrellas / Starless", óleo, lápiz, silverpoint / oil pencil silverpoint, 72,7 x 116,7 cm., 2005