I have been interested in traditional culture and handicrafts since I was young, and I was attracted to the beauty of mizubiki materials I met in spring 2017 and the depth of knots, so I started creative activities. His books include “Mizuhiki Recipes Connecting Lifestyles, Events, and Hare Day” (2018 Graphic Company), “Decorations for the Twenty-Four Seasons Connected by Mizuhiki” (2019 Nitto Shoin Headquarters), “Mizuhiki Recipes to Color Food, Clothing, and Shelter” (2021 Graphic Company), and “Adult Fashionable Notebook Special Edited Mizuhiki Ornament Book to Enjoy Life” (2021 Takarajimasha).

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Shortly after the activities began, they launched their own brand [hare (hare)] and developed mizuhiki miscellaneous goods, mizuhiki trinkets, and mizuhiki knotting classes. While working as a lecturer in product design and mizuhiki classes, he has worked on artwork for corporate promotional materials, product development, corporate advertisements, magazines, etc., and is active in a wide range of activities.

While conveying and expressing Japan's wonderful handicrafts, traditional culture, and customs and annual events born from the four seasons and people's activities with mizuhiki designs that are close to the current lifestyle, they carry out activities every day so that “mizuhiki” can be incorporated naturally into our lives in any era, so that it can be connected to future generations.

[Creator Interview]

Q. How did you get into mizuhiki?

A mizuhiki handicraft book I found by chance at a stationery store while I was on childcare leave for my first child. That was my encounter with Mizuhiki.

At that time, I was a company employee as a sales employee at an advertising agency, and while I was on parental leave after giving birth to my first child who will be 6 years old this year, I found a book of mizuhiki at a stationery store where I stopped by to find a hobby I could do at home. I think the reason I was first attracted to mizuhiki was that I originally liked making things and had dexterous hands, and that I was interested in Japanese culture and traditions from an early age.

Around the same time, my son's “The Beginning of Eating (100th Day Celebration)” was just around the corner, and I somehow thought about making mizuhiki decorations for that celebration seat, so I tried making chopstick wraps for the whole family, food decorations, etc. in mizuhiki. At that time, I came into contact with the hare seat convention, the way of thinking and various meanings of Japanese culture behind it, and the feeling that “Japanese culture is interesting, I want to know it more deeply,” which led me to decide to try mizuhiki in earnest afterwards.

Q. Please tell me why you offered online classes with CLASS101.

I thought it would be nice if we could explore what we can do online, including classrooms, according to the modern lifestyle exposed to the novel coronavirus, so many people from all over the country, including students in face-to-face classrooms in Tokyo, enjoyed the “Mizuhiki Musubi Learning from the Basics and Making Seasonal Works to Color Our Lives,” which was previously offered in class 101.

I also have such an experience, and I would like more people to know the appeal of mizuhiki not only in Tokyo, where I usually teach face-to-face, but also all over Japan, and in the future, to people outside of Japan as a wonderful hospitality culture in Japan. Also, I wanted mizuhiki to become a traditional culture that can be incorporated into our daily lives in any era, which is why we offered online classes.

Q. What kind of experiences do you want the students to have through this class? Also, please give a word to the students!

Beginners can learn from the basics of the basics, and experienced people can learn tips for tying beautiful knots.

I hope you enjoy making mizuhiki items that make Halle Day, which always passes through annual events and milestones in life, more gorgeous, and at the same time learn about “mizuhiki,” which is Japanese culture, and think about the meaning of important events in Japan.

Also, I would like to be able to provide a rich and meaningful time to take a breath from the hectic days and concentrate while feeling the comfort and fun of tying, and the depth of knots.