Through the Blossom

In its latest Color is the Answer (CIA) community initiative, OPI partnered with muralist, Kent Yoshimura, to create a powerful and vibrant new space in Little Tokyo. This neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles, full of Japanese American history and culture, has seen a lot of growth since its inception in the early 1900’s. Through CIA, OPI aims to embrace the power of color, showing how color has the ability to evoke transformation and inspiration. To honor the brand’s new Tokyo collection, OPI is bringing together arts, culture and community via this latest endeavor.

Titled “Through the Blossom,” Yoshimura’s mural mixes Little Tokyo’s past and present with color and nuances from traditional Japanese folklore. Taking from the iconic landmarks and history of the neighborhood, the mural incorporates many key culturally important symbols for a modern, fresh and colorful addition to the cityscape. The mural was unveiled to the community on March 28, 2019 with a community celebration of food, music and manicures. 

“In this piece, I wanted to explore something that, I hope, will be appreciated beyond our community. I want the vibrant colors, along with the imagery of hope, legacy and various inspirations from ancient Japanese heritage to become embedded into LA as a whole,” explains Yoshimura.

Each CIA initiative also includes a Color for Change element, harnessing the power of color to generate a positive impact. OPI employees volunteered the day of the unveiling to clean up the surrounding area and re-paint a central community kiosk that sits in a major walkway next to the mural.  

“To celebrate the launch of the new Tokyo collection, we decided to focus on Little Tokyo, a historically important area of Los Angeles that has been the center of Japanese-American culture, and lately has seen a surge in new business, new building and community revitalization,” shares OPI co-founder and brand ambassador, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. “The goal of Color is the Answer is to show that color is even bigger than expression; it has the potential to transform you and others around you – even the world around you. We’re excited to do just that with the help of Kent Yoshimura, whose talent in expressing color is a perfect fit for OPI.”