These bags were designed and made by my good wife Yoko. She is a dab hand with a needle, and makes a lot of clothes, curtains etc.
A few years ago she took some classes on Ainu embroidery from a couple of Ainu sisters, Machiko Kato & Sanae Ogawa. The Ainu now live mostly on Hokkaido, and are descended from the Emishi, the original inhabitants of eastern Japan before being driven out by the invading Yamato. A couple of years ago the Japanese government finally admitted that the Ainu exist, and there has been a resurgence of interest among younger Ainu in their traditional culture and language.
Ainu design bears a striking similarity to celtic design sometimes.
Yoko has sold a lot of these bags, each one unique as she doesnt like to repeat a design.
If you are interested in knowing more, or in purchasing any of them, please contact me. They go for approx 50 USD.
3 comments:
simply creative!
Those bags are beautiful! Yoko is very talented!
Is she herself of Ainu inheritance? Or did she just learn the styles?
Yoko has no Ainu blood..... :)
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