What is MIZUHIKI?
Mizuhiki is a uniquely Japanese string made of paper. Mizuhiki has been used mainly for wrapping gifts since ancient times.
The Origin of Mizuhiki dated all the way back to 7th century. It is said that when the appointed envoy to Zui returned to Japan, the Zui envoy that came along brought gifts that were tied and decorated with red and white hemp strings. From then on, all the offerings to the imperial palace were tied with red and white strings.
In Japan, we have a culture to wrap up money in GOSHUGI-BUKURO(ご祝儀袋) or special envelopes (opened by the flaps in the middle) and give it to those who are in various celebratory occasions such as wedding and happy events.
We don’t put money into envelope but we wrap in Washi paper (hand-made from tree fibers of a specific tree) and tied with mizuhiki for the formal manner.
Why do I choose MIZUHIKI?
The first time I saw Mizuhiki works was when I got married. In Japan, there is an engagement ceremony called “YUINO”, where the groom gives a gift to the bride. The gift was beautifully tied with Mizuhiki. There was a wide variety of Mizuhiki, from simple to gorgeous, and I fell in love with them at first sight.
I then took a Mizuhiki class for five years, mastered the techniques, and founded 喜結(kimusubi) in 2015. The more I learn, the more I realize how important Mizuhiki is to the Japanese people, and I feel sad that in modern times it has become a mere formality, and that most Japanese people grow up without having the opportunity to learn the correct knowledge about Mizuhiki. And I want to convey the emotion I felt when I first saw Mizuhiki as an engagement gift.
My life’s thrust
Due to changes in lifestyle, traditional ceremonies have become merely a formality, and the demand for mizuhiki -which was once indispensable for ceremonial occasions- has plummeted.
In Japan, where the population is declining, how can we protect traditional crafts and pass them on to the next generation?
We, who live in the modern age, need to master the techniques and recreate them in an attractive way using our senses and new ideas. I think that this beautiful traditional Japanese culture can be spread to people all over the world, at par with the likes of origami, Japanese calligraphy, tea ceremony, to name a few.
Before that, education into the art would play an important role in successfully globalizing the mizuhiki art. To do that, I have been searching for ways to spread mizuhiki culture overseas, not as a custom of the past, but as a unique Japanese culture that we can be proud of around the world.
I want to convey the beauty of mizuhiki’s dignified appearance to people overseas, so I have elevated it to the level of art and promoted it both domestically and internationally, through exchanges and collaborations with various cultures.
As much as can, I will continue to explore new initiatives. This is all to connect mizuhiki to today’s generation and the next. For mizuhiki as well to be never less valuable as the already known parts of Japanese culture, even not only kabuki, Japanese garden, or kimono.
ACHIEVEMENTS
2010: Started learning Mizuhiki after my wedding.
2015: Founded “Kimusubi”, started selling on the internet and opened some pop-up shops.
2018:・Held a solo exhibition titled: “That’s great news!” (chubby, Tokyo)
・Mizuhiki Demonstration (GUCCI, Aoyama opening party)
2019: Created a logo for “Studio CARATT” photo studio’s 25th anniversary.
2020 ・Held a solo exhibition titled: “The Light” (GALLERY TATSUYA TOKYO, Tokyo)
・Held a panel exhibition titled: “Minna de Amabie Exhibition” (Umeda Loft, Osaka)
2021 ・Mizuhiki artwork featured in “Osaka Hankyu Sanbangai” New Year advertisement
・ Held a group exhibition titled: “Tokyo Motorcycle Art Show”
(SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, Tokyo)
2022 ・Created a logo for a heavy equipment manufacturer “AKTIO” 50th anniversary
・Registered Kimusubi as an artist for GALLERY TATSUYA.
2023 ・Mizuhiki demonstration (LOUIS VUITTON in Tokyo and Kobe)
・Held a solo exhibition titled: “Take off”
(Art Gallery Umeda, Daimaru department store Umeda, Osaka)
・Held a group Exhibition titled: “NEW WAVE GALLERY”
(Daimaru department store Umeda/ Osaka)
2024 ・Held a group Exhibition titled: “NEW WAVE GALLERY”
(Daimaru department store Umeda/ Osaka)
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
2017 Held a exhibition and workshop at handcraft market “connect Asia” (Taipei, Taiwan)
2019 Held a exhibition and workshop at Japan festival
(sported by Japan Foundation/ Chennai and Karur, India)
2021 ・Held a exhibition titeld:
“Selected Japan Exhibition – Contemporary Art and Tradition”
(Château De Lavardens, France)
・Held a online seminar titeld: “Window into Japan”
(sponsored by Japan Foundation, New Delhi, India)
2022 Held an online workshop (sponsored by Japan Foundation, Cairo, Egypt)
2023 Held a exhibition and workshop in Japan festival
(supported by Jeddah Japanese school,Embassy of Japan
/ Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
LIST OF MEDIA APPEARANCES
2017 ・Bimonthly magazine “Web Designing” April issue (magazine cover, feature page)
・Fresh Faces – Atarashii Hito- (TV BS Asahi)
2018 ・Annual magazine “日本藥妝美研購4：日本藥美妝購物趣! Tokyo 藥妝生活神級指南」
(Taiwan/Magazine cover, feature page)
・Monthly magazine “Pumpkin” January issue (featured on the front page)
2019 ・Appearance on “Ohayo Nippon – Kurashiri” (NHK Kanto Koshinetsu)
・Akiko Yagi “LOVE & MELODY” ~Good Story~ (Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc.)
・One Morning” – Morning Professionals: Morning Style (Tokyo FM)
・Monthly magazine “Pumpkin” January issue (magazine cover and feature page)
2020 ・Book “Minna no Amabie” (artwork)
2023 ・ARToVILLA (interview )
I will also focus on productions commissioned by companies and cultural exchanges for overseas.
Please visit my Instagram for the latest information.