Tsumami zaiku workshop for exchange students in University
Hello! I am Tomomi Yamashita, ITA Representative Director, and instructor. As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, we offered a Tsumami zaiku workshop to 36 international students from the university in Tokyo the other day. We were asked to hold a workshop for them to experience Japanese culture as part of their university class. The international students came from all over the world: Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, the United States, England, Spain, Russia, Mexico, and Australia. Since we had two hours, I first prepared materials to lecture them about tsumami zaiku. The classroom lecture took about 10 minutes with lots of visuals so that students won't get bored.After that, […]
Craft festival "Monomachi" in Tokyo!
Hello, I am Rei Furuya, ITA Certified Teacher, and director of ITA. From 24th to 26th last month, Monomachi, an event held in Tokyo's Taito Ward, was held. Ateliers, studios, and stores offered workshops and other opportunities for visitors to experience their skills. This year, 110 stores participated in the event. My studio “Aoi Kai” also participated in the event as we did last year. About 90 people attended the workshop this year. The wide age range, from 3 years old to elderly participated. It is always a lot of work to prepare for the event, but we received comments such as, “I was looking forward to experiencing tsumami zaiku!", “I came last […]
Market Event in Singapore
Hello, I am Juveina Sim, ITA Certified Teacher, and founder of Jing Creations SG, from Singapore. On 11-12 May 2024, I attended Doujin Market event and shared a booth there with my partner under our shared brand name Just Kidding! Amidst this electrifying celebratory gathering of Singapore’s doujin culture, I took the opportunity to share about the traditional craft of tsumami zaiku with visitors who dropped by my booth. I brought some new stuff to Doujima. Hanami Dango and Hana Dango (花見団子と花団子) Previously I had written about my chirimen Hanami Dango hairclips in the Doujinfes Kallang post. For Doujima, I brought many new flavors - Hana Dango. They are Matcha, […]
Is Tsumami zaiku really traditional craft of Japan?
Hello, I am Tomomi Yamashita, ITA Teacher and Director. Tsumami zaiku is known as a traditional Japanese craft, but, to be exact, it is Japan's traditional craft designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. So why? I guess you might ask. Tsumami zaiku was positioned as a "traditional craft designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government" because Tokyo was the only area where tsumami zaiku was being produced at the time it was certified as a traditional craft. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) was in charge of this certification at the time, which is probably why the requirement was set in this way. If it had been under the […]
Honorable Mention in the AJC(Arts Japan Craft) Creators Contest!
Hello, I am Cecil Lee, ITA Certified Teacher in China! Last month, my tsumami zaiku work was exhibited in the AJC Creators Contest in Tokyo. So I would like to introduce my 2024 AJC Creators Contest entry items. It’s a wonderful journey with the AJC in the 2024 spring. My work name was “Years of Sea and Mountains”, I used Japanese paper to make the sea and mountains, and made the Japanese paradise flycatcher by using the tsumami zaiku technique. First I made the double-thickness Japanese paper with glue and then drew 55 pieces of sea and 15 pieces of mountain patterns on the paper, finally will cut along the […]
Kids Tsumami Workshop in France
<Kids workshop for Azuki Bunko Versailles> Hello I am Naoko Noguchi, ITA Certified Teacher in France. On 10th March, I held a kid's workshop for Azuki Bunko Versailles.Azuki bunko is an organization that organizes a kids' library once a month for Japanese kids living around Versailles.They also organize a kids’ workshop once every two months. This is a great opportunity for Japanese kids living in France to access many Japanese books or also to learn Japanese culture through the workshops. This month I introduced Tsumami Zaiku to the kids. Since there were around 20 kids and the kids’ ages were mainly small(2-5 years old), I chose a method that kids […]
Anime Event and Tsumami zaiku in Singapore
Hello! ITA Certified Teacher 006, Juveina Sim from Singapore recently attended an anime event in Singapore, Doujinfes @ Leisure Park Kallang and here is the event report. Doujinfes @ Leisure Park Kallang was held on 24 & 25 February 2024. It was an exciting weekend where cosplayers, artists, creators, makers, fans etc gathered together to hang out, take photos, shop at Artist Alley etc. There are many booths by amazingly talented creators who market their original illustrations, fan art merchandise, handmade crafts etc. Doujinfes Team Artist Instagram : @kuehmerlion Juveina also boothed at the event, sharing with her crocheter partner (IG: @kquaintsg ). She sells her original creations tsumami zaiku hair […]
Tsumami zaiku School Online released the new Maiko kanzashi
Tsumatsu zaiku School Online is an online school where you can learn the traditional techniques of tsumami zaiku.Among them, the Maiko series is very popular because you can learn the seasonal Kanzashi worn by Maiko, which are rarely seen in Japan. New Kanzashi has been added to the MAIKO series. This is a February plum Kanzashi. In this series, you will learn how to make seasonal kanzashi for maiko. Kanzashi for February is Plums. In the Nara period (710-794), plum blossoms were loved as a flower that announces the arrival of spring. Because it has five petals, the flower is called "gofuku," which means five blessings, a good luck symbol. […]
Geisha Chronicles: Exploring 'Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san
Have you read or watched"舞妓さん家のまかないさん" ("Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san")？ It's a popular manga and anime series in Japan. The story follows Kiyo, who arrives in Kyoto from Aomori with her childhood friend, Suu, to become Maiko. They join an okiya, which serves not only as their living quarters but also trains apprentices, known as "shikomi-san," to become accomplished Maiko and support them when they debut or become independent as Geiko. Kiyo eventually becomes the okiya's cook （"makanai-san"), while Suu pursues her dream of becoming a maiko. The narrative depicts the daily lives and relationships of women working in the geisha world. I watched the drama on Netflix, where you can experience the […]