In Photos: Japanese Artist Finds Solace and Global Fans With Intricate Leaf-Cutting

In Photos: Japanese Artist Finds Solace and Global Fans With Intricate Leaf-Cutting
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2024. Shuji Kajiyama/AP Photo
The Associated Press
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TOKYO—A frog holding a taro-leaf umbrella. A parade of frolicking animals. An Ukiyo-e style Mount Fuji. Giant waves. A Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito carves these delicate designs on fallen leaves, giving life back to them.

The world of Lito’s delicate art, which he began in 2020 and posts on social media almost daily, has won fans from around the world. The leaf art has also given him solace after earlier struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a purpose in life—the joy of making people happy with his art.