CANVAS REBEL
Meet Saya Moriyasu
Stories & Insights | August 5, 2024
“We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Saya Moriyasu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Saya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents created our home as a center of stability and creativity. Over the years, they welcomed many diverse people into our lives, making it a hub for relatives, friends, artists, and the Japanese American community.
My father came to Oregon from war-torn Hiroshima prefecture to study engineering. At Oregon State College, he met my mother, who was brought up on a tiny farm and was a member of 4H*. Their lives couldn’t have been more different, yet together, they created a vibrant world filled with love and creativity.
We lived on Hewett Boulevard in the hills west of Portland, on a narrow, winding road surrounded by evergreen trees. Our home, nestled in the middle of this serpentine path, felt like a world unto itself. Although we had neighbors and other kids within walking distance, I remember our home as an energy vortex…”