Monday, July 6, 2009

Ainu-design bags

bag1

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.

bag2

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.

bagdetail

Ainu design bears a striking similarity to celtic design sometimes.

bag3

Yoko has sold a lot of these bags, each one unique as she doesnt like to repeat a design.

bag4

If you are interested in knowing more, or in purchasing any of them, please contact me. They go for approx 50 USD.

3 comments:

  1. simply creative!

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  2. Those bags are beautiful! Yoko is very talented!
    Is she herself of Ainu inheritance? Or did she just learn the styles?

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