Kumamiki

Shot Kumamiki for a new book on kimonos -- she mentioned she has is video blogging now, check it out! Always sooooo sweet, she is a walking, real life version of the kawaii book and she is really in the center of that culture.
PS she is also making yukata (summer kimonos), I love talented girls :)))
https://www.youtube.com/user/kumamikicraft

LA

LA was super hectic, but met so many people it was really quite incredible and managed to squeeze in some work for my kimono book too and meet some LA kawaii peeps.
Thank you so much to Aaron, Gabriel and Dory from SCB, Greg Kimura and Elizabeth from the Japanese American Museum, Yoko from the Japan Foundation, Sherry from Kinokuniya and all the people who bought books and came to my talk.
Everyone was super super friendly at the talk which was SO nice! I can't thank you enough for coming to the talk and buying books,  I am so so so so soooo  grateful!

Got a mega vitamin D dose at the LA TImes book fair, LA weather lived up to its reputation. I have never done a US book fair so it was nice to see that print is far from dead.

So many people asked about my kimono - it is from Denim Dosu in Kyoto, I can wear it with converse, throw it in the wash, iron it, it is made from premium denim and it folds well -- i.e. it is easy to put on. It has pink stitching. The han eri (collar) is pink and stitched with birds, it is from Wakitsch. I am in the middle of compiling a stack of interesting designers for my next book if you want to see more:
http://kimononow.blogspot.jp/

I think as many people wanted to talk about kimono as the books! :) Some photos at the Japan Foundation pop up exhibition (my suitcase was like a BRICK) and the book fair:

LOS ANGELES!

OK.... so this is the final updated schedule, my books will be available at all of these, if you already have a book, bring it over if you want it signed!

12 April// 12-1 at the Japan American Museum

12 april //2:30 - 4 at the LA TIMES book fair
13 april //3:30 to 5 at the LA TIMES book fair

 17 april// 7 pm at the JAPAN FOUNDATION for a kokeshi/post 3-11 Japanese youth culture/ kawaii culture talk.
Also I am doing a pop up exhibition. I sold off all my kokeshi in Paris for charity, but I managed to borrow about 35 vintage kokeshi, and will bring 10 of my own, copies of KOKESHKA's Kokeshi Jidai magazine, and we will have a slide show too. It is FREE so if you aren't doing anything, come over and say hi!

xxxxx

Japanese American National Museum

I will be at the Japanese American National Museum signing kokeshi books as well!
12th April, 12 to 1. They did this awesome kokeshi show a while back:
http://www.janm.org/exhibits/kokeshi/

kokeshi talk Japan Foundation LA

I will be giving a kokeshi talk at the Japan Foundation in Los Angeles on the 17th of April, from 7pm.

I will be covering the basics on kokeshi dolls, production methods, types, and the Tohoku hot spring regions where they are made. The talk will also focus on the Tohoku artisan spirit, and the aesthetic sensibilities of kokeshi, and how they relate to modern trends such as kawaii culture and youth culture post 3/11. If you want to know about kokeshi, the psychology of the artisan or the roots of kawaii culture, come over and say hi!

I will bring a bunch of kokeshi (both vintage and new types) for people to check out.

It should be fun fun fun fun!!!! Very excited!!
Kinokuniya will have books there, or if you have a copy of the kawaii book already and want it signed, come over!
it is free!

LA TIMES BOOK FAIR/ KINOKUNIYA BOOKS

 I will be at the LA TIMES book fair on the 12th of April form 2:30 to 4 pm at the Kinokuniya stand signing kawaii books, which is a huge honor as Kinokuniya are the best major book store in Japan.

 It is at the University of Southern California campus, free and looks amazing: The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has evolved to include live bands, poetry readings, chef demos, cultural entertainment and artists creating their work on-site. There’s also a photography exhibit, film screenings followed by Q&A’s and discussion panels on some of today’s hottest topics. - See more at: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/fob-info/#sthash.Cyld2Kv9.dpuf

Come and say hi! Or if you are in LA and want to connect, drop me a line.
It is sometimes hard for me to keep up with mails; if you are in the area and are one of those people with mega long emails with a ton of questions, please drop by!


Thanks Kinokuniya, I am SO excited. It has been a while since I have been to LA and looking forward to it! xxxxx

3/11

The Tohoku disaster took place three years ago. RIP to everyone who lost their lives. A lot of people I know had a shift in values and priorities after 3/11, not only for the people who passed away, can't return to their homes, or had relatives and friends who died, the mass devastation marked a change in consciousness for a lot of people. The problem is unfortunately far from over. My grandad's house...fond childhood memories in this village which was hugely devastated.