Taken from BBC news website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31671772) The Duke of Cambridge was dressed as a famous samurai warrior during a visit to the set of a long-running historical drama in Japan. Prince William visited a Tokyo studio where a popular costume drama is filmed – dressing as a samurai who unified the country in the 16th […]
Tag: UK
An Interview with Mizuyo Yamashita – Ceramic Designer
Please introduce yourself and your background. My name is Mizuyo Yamashita. I came to the UK in 2000 to study English and I started working in pottery as a hobby. Now I have a studio in East London. I was born and grew up in a big family of 7 including 2 brothers. My father […]
Interview with Yoko Izawa – Jewellery Designer and Craftsperson
Interview and translation by Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself and your background. In Japan I was working in package design while studying jewellery making as a hobby, then in 1998 I came over to the UK in order to study further and to see a different culture. Initially I was on a Graphic Design course […]
Japan Matsuri London 2014
Text and photos by Mike Sullivan One of the biggest Japanese festivals in the UK took place on Saturday 27th September 2014 at Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. The festival is made up of Japanese food, music, dance, and more. It started at 11 am and continued until 9 pm, throughout the day […]
Interview with Ikuko Iwamoto – Astounding London based potter
Interview by Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself. My name is Ikuko Iwamoto and I have worked in pottery for around 25 years, and for the past 13 years I have lived in London. In Japan I had been apprenticed to Asuka Tsuboi, and I myself also studied to be a teacher, but in 2001 I […]
Interview with Ikuko Kurahone – Talented Jewellery Designer
By Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself and your background. I am a fine jewellery designer. I have been running my brand iKuria in London. Originally, I was born in Tokyo and grew up in Saitama. My name Ikuko Kurahone is extremely rare and nobody remembers it. So I created the name iKuria by shortening and […]
Interview with Yuriri Naka – Konnichiwa Brick Lane Actress
By Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself and your background. Where in Japan is your family originally from? I was born and grew up in Tokyo. After graduating from high school in Tokyo, I moved to the UK to study drama and pursue my career as an actress. Last year you starred in the feature movie […]
Interview with Nao Fukumoto O’Neill – Textile Artisan who Studied at the Okinawan Art and Design University
By Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself and your background. I was born in Japan and went to study weaving at the Okinawan prefecture of Art and Design University where I graduated with a MA in woven textile in 2006. As part of the course I was given the chance to study textiles in Britain for […]
Interview with Mica Hirosawa – Textile Artisan from Yokohama
By Mike Sullivan Please introduce yourself and your background. I was born in Yokohama. I studied Textile Design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design from 1988 to 1991 and 1992 to 1994. Please tell us about your work. I hand weave scarves from my workshop in Holborn. I am based in Cockpit […]