My wish is to develop modern designs inspired by traditional craftsmanship. That’s why I occasionally visit Shokunin (Japanese for “masters”) to get inspired by their work and get a glimpse of the technique.
Recently I went to Zao to make my own glass in the glass studio “Kirlo”.
In Kogei no Sato (Traditional Craft Village) in Akiu, Sendai, one can get to know and experience old Japanese handicraft techniques in nine workshops. Together with a Japanese friend I visited two workshops: one for kokeshi (Japanese wooden dolls) and one for koma (wooden spinning top).
Do you know TOKYOmaniacs? Denny’s blog “Tokyo, der Moloch und ich” has long been known in German-speaking countries. About three months ago, Denny wrote an article about his job search experience in Japan. Then I also wanted to put in my two pennies worth and we met for a video interview in Tokyo.
The time has come: We have the year 2019, the year of the boar – time to go hog wild! Of course, that’s all meant positively, because the year 2019 will just be marvellous!
Create easily your own stamps and prints
It’s the beginning of December and I just finished my Christmas card mass production. For the amount of cards and letters, the whole thing was relatively fast thanks to a printing technique, which I learned about two months ago in Japan. Probably this technique is not typically Japanese, but I didn’t know it before.
This August, together with my friend Miki I visited the small town of Arimatsu near Nagoya-city to attend a small workshop on shibori (Japanese batik technique).
In May 2015, my brother celebrated his 25th birthday. When I was thinking of a suitable present, I remembered what he had said to me a few months earlier: “You can paint the Mona Lisa for me!” Hmm, why not? I thought.