Draft:Koji Murai

Koji Murai was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1941. He received his diploma in photography in 1961 from the Tama Art University in 1961. Koji Murai creates many different works of art featuring clowns. He became inspired to make art of clowns by the dolls he saw while visiting Bali, France as a photographer. After returning to Japan he established and headed the specialty store, "Pierrot de Pierre" Murai made his first music box creation, "Dancing Clown," in 1977, which was sold in more than 20 countries around the world. In 1994 he won the "Best of Design of the Year" award at the International Gift Show. In 2006 he directed and designed the Kawaguchiko Music Festival's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

In 1987 Murai created a music box of Marcel Marceau, or "Blip the Clown." Many of Murai's pieces are now valued as collector's items.