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 learned attus(※1) weaving under her mother-in-law, the artist Kaizawa Yukiko, and was taught sewing from senior artisans in Nibutani, continuing to work on it with dedication.

She mainly produces traditional garments 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.
A Member of the Nibutani Craft Association.

※1　Attus is a traditional Ainu textile, plain-woven from fibers extracted from the inner bark of trees such as the Japanese elm (Ulmus laciniata, also known as lobed elm), as well as the garments made from it. Nibutani Attus, woven using traditional techniques handed down in the Nibutani region of Biratori, is a designated Traditional Craft Product of Japan. Nibutani Attus is a special brand that can only be called as such when created only by specially recognized weavers.

Contact Information

Kaizawa Mingei (Kaizawa Folk Crafts)
75-2 Nibutani, Biratori-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido 055-0101, Japan
TEL (International): +81-1457-2-2584