Sano was born Nui Sakaki () in
Hirosaki, Japan, in 1932. Her family owned a sweets shop and a tearoom, where she was exposed to gatherings of classical musicians, writers, and painters. From 2004 to 2007, she served as executive director of the . Sano is considered a
yōga, or Western-style, painter. Her work is best known for her use of the color blue, across its range of tones and shades, in a style that has been dubbed "Sano Blue" (佐野ブルー)—earning her the nickname "The Blue Painter" (青の画家). Her work has been exhibited widely in Japan and abroad, notably by the women artists' group
Joryū Gaka Kyōkai, and is held in the collections of the
Aomori Museum of Art; the
Hirosaki City Museum; the
Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama; and others. Since 2010, a
stained-glass piece designed by Sano has been displayed at
Narita Yukawa Station, and in 2014, another stained-glass work of hers was installed in her native Hirosaki's city hall. In 2012, Sano was honoured as a member of the
Order of the Sacred Treasure. She died from heart failure on August 23, 2023, at the age of 90. == References ==