It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that nearly every Japanese person from every generation has seen Mr. Hikone's recognizable characters that have appeared in numerous TV commercials over the years. As an Illustrator and an Animator, he is arguably one of the most influential artists in the Japanese creative circle. One of his characters Karl Ojisan (Uncle Karl), created for a major Japanese confectionary company, Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., still remains as a popular character for over 30 years. Hikone received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He worked as an animator for Toei Animation (called Toei Doga Animation back then) and Mushi Production before becoming a freelance artist. He has created characters and animations for a number of leading corporate.