Kaizawa Miyuki（）
Attus Weaver and Embroiderer (2003- )
Born in 1968 in Nibutani, Biratori, Hokkaido. She began creating crafts after marrying Kaizawa Mamoru, a woodcarver. Although she grew up in a family with no connection to crafts, her marriage introduced her to Ainu handwork. She studied attus weaving under her mother-in-law, the artist Kaizawa Yukiko, and learned sewing from senior artisans in Nibutani, continuing to work on it with dedication.
She mainly produces kimonos and embroidery made from attus cloth. While it is not easy to find the time for spinning and weaving attus threads, she strives to make time for production in order to carry on the traditions of Nibutani, and she remains committed to creating works with care and fidelity to the basics. She hopes many people will have the opportunity to experience the traditional crafts of Nibutani.
Member of the Nibutani Folk Craft Association.
Career Highlights
Certified Excellent Craftsperson by the Public Interest Incorporated Association Hokkaido Ainu Association
Advisor commissioned by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Ainu Cultural Foundation
Hokkaido Ainu Traditional Craft Exhibition (Public Interest Incorporated Association Hokkaido Ainu Association)
2003 – Top Award (Governor of Hokkaido Prize)
2013 – Excellence Award
2014 – Excellence Award
*Note: The current Public Interest Incorporated Association Hokkaido Ainu Association was known as Incorporated Association Hokkaido Utari Association until 2008, then changed to Incorporated Association Hokkaido Ainu Association in 2009, and took its current name in 2014.
Ainu Craftworks Contest (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Ainu Cultural Foundation)
2005 – Excellence Award (Traditional weaving, knitting, and embroidery category) (Complete attus woven kimono set)
2009 – Selected (Traditional weaving, knitting, and embroidery category) (attus embroidered garment)
2012 – Encouragement Award (Traditional weaving, knitting, and embroidery category) (kapara embroidery)
*Note: The current Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Ainu Cultural Foundation was formerly the Foundation for the Promotion and Research of Ainu Culture until 2013, when it became the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion and Research of Ainu Culture, and was reorganized to its current name in 2018.
Kaizawa Mingei (Kaizawa Folk Crafts)
75-2 Nibutani, Biratori-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido 055-0101, Japan
TEL (Domestic): 01457-2-2584
TEL (International): +81-1457-2-2584