Yoshitomo Nara was born in 1959 to a working class family in the rural village of Hirosaki.  Although he was the youngest of three boys, Nara’s brothers were much older and his upbringing was similar to that of an only child. Due to the rapid economic development of post-war Japan, his parents spent long hours at work and, like many other children with working parents, the introverted Nara spent a great deal of his time alone without parental supervision, a so-called “latchkey child."

Instead of depending on his mother, Nara had to learn to depend on himself. To pass the time he watched television, played with his pets, read picture books, listened to American and British rock music, and drew pictures.

The introverted Nara struggled to fit in with his peers and, as a result, dealt with feelings of alienation and isolation.

Instead of following a traditional career path that would lead to him becoming a salary man, Nara received his Master in Fine Arts degree from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music in 1987. The following year he moved to Germany and studied at the Dusseldorf Kunstakademie.

After graduation, he set up a studio in Koln, Germany and in 1991, began channeling his loneliness into painting his trademark images of angry little girls.

In 2001, after spending time in Germany and the U.S., he moved back to Japan and set up a studio. Since the early 2000s, due to his compelling and highly personal style, Nara has developed a wide fan base that ranges from serious collectors to teenagers.