Exhibiting at Japan Fair

◆We participated in the Japan Fair
On June 29th and 30th, I participated in Japan Fair , my first event in the United States. Tradition is cool and amazing! Thanks to the many people I met at this event, I have a greater appreciation than ever for the history of Koginzashi and its existence as a traditional craft. I learned about the charm and possibilities of Koginzashi that I, a Japanese person who has lived in Japan, could not see.
I think the reason I was able to have such a wonderful experience was largely due to the fact that many people who immigrated from Japan had fostered a positive image of Japan, and also thanks to the many people currently working to improve the image of Japan here. It was a large-scale event, but what was impressive was the genuine sense of unity with the organizers. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to participate.

(They learned about Kogin embroidery by looking and touching it.)

◆Various JAPAN
I was busy returning to Japan the day after the event, so I was only able to post a quick report on Instagram , but the Japan Fair had a variety of JAPAN-related things to see, including booths from Japanese companies and organizations, individual booths like mine, performances on stage such as taiko drumming, workshops, food and drink areas, and flower arrangement displays.
In addition to selling at my booth and holding a mini workshop, I also had the opportunity to introduce Koginzashi on stage . The children wandered all over the venue and ate strawberry sandwiches for snacks, which they said were very delicious and they said they want to come to Japan Fair again soon. (laughs) Around my booth there were general goods stores, kimono stores, displays of armor and Japanese swords, and a booth for Seattle's Japanese garden. I had no idea what kind of time I would be spending there, but it far exceeded my expectations.

◆The first customer we met at our booth was someone who had traveled to Aomori last year. After intently looking at the explanation of Kogin embroidery, she happily chose a piece and said, " I ate 10 apple pies in Hirosaki, but I didn't know about Kogin embroidery!" We had a great time with many people, including someone majoring in Japanese at the University of Washington, someone who loves Japanese culture, and someone from Japan.
Most of the people were interested in the origins and patterns of Kogin embroidery, and asked many questions. Many people knew about or had done Sashiko before, but this was their first time trying Kogin embroidery! I was truly glad that they participated. Even people who were just passing by shared a few words of feedback. Some brought their friends along to introduce Kogin embroidery, and I was constantly moved by everyone's actions. It was the first time I felt so glad to be born in Aomori and to be involved in Aomori traditions. It was also the moment I fell in love with America.
I was glad to see that everyone managed to rely on others to gather money, despite the cash-only situation here in America (I've only used cash a few times in a year). I felt bad that the inconvenience meant we had to communicate a few more things, but it was fun. It was great to have exchanges like, "Sorry, I'm short a dollar, but I need it," or "That's my wallet for today," and laugh. Of course, if I can participate again next year, I plan to prepare for cashless payment. (laughs)

◆Interest, enthusiasm and expressionAs I wrote above, most of the visitors were originally interested in Japan or had a connection to Japan, and their enthusiasm when they wanted to know something was something I would like to emulate. Many people wanted to see the actual stitching , and those who were engaged in some kind of handicraft seemed amazed by the unique patterns that were created from the simple movements of Kogin embroidery.
I also received a lot of questions like, "Do you hold workshops or classes?" and I was really fascinated by the culture of taking something that interests you and making it your own. I learned about the charm of Kogin embroidery from the perspectives of many people, from small children to the elderly. One of my goals while I'm in America is to hold a workshop or something like that. It would be nice if it could become one of the joys of life.

◆The charm of tradition that could only be seen at an event in America I think it was precisely because it was in America that people said the traditional works were cool and amazing. It may have been because of the location in Bellevue, but many people were happy that the things they were going to buy had a historical background or that the patterns had meaning, and thanks to the many people I met at this event, I was able to gain confidence in my Kogin embroidery. I also wanted to create works that would convey the charm and fun of traditional Kogin embroidery to people I meet in the future, and to study traditions.

(The piece with white thread on a navy blue background seemed to be the most eye-catching.)

◆I will also resume making Satonobou-like itemsI took a break from selling and had some items on hand, so I stopped making accessories and coasters for a while, but I'm thinking of starting again little by little. This is also because many of the people who purchased my items this time praised the colors, saying things like "I really like the color scheme" or "I really like this color combination," and chose my items with satisfied looks on their faces.
I applied for this event in a hurry because shortly after I started living in Bellevue, I had a vague feeling that I wanted to get the feeling that I was living in America, and the booths were about to sell out, so I applied. However, in the end, I am really glad that I was able to attend.
I would like to continue to enjoy Kogin embroidery, interact with people, and discover the charm of Kogin embroidery. Thank you for your continued support.

 
▶️Materials Research Blog
▶️Shop (We plan to expand the digital design lineup in the future, except when we are temporarily back in Japan)
▶︎Goldfish Nebuta Kit Design and Instruction Data Sales
(We have added a design sample to the work examples)
・Goldfish Nebuta with a gentle face▶️ minne sales page
・Goldfish Nebuta with a brave face▶️ minne sales page
▶️Instagram (We share the simplicity and fun of Kogin embroidery through videos, etc.)
 
Satonobou