Vol.3 Nozomi Shichi in Kyoto
Cohana and Ninigi Series
This series features people who have fallen in love with making things by hand and built their lives around it.
Through the stories of makers who lead vibrant and fulfilling lives through their craft, we explore the world of making from a variety of perspectives, weaving in the stories behind their connections with Cohana.
Cohana and Ninigi Vol.3
Nozomi Shichi in Kyoto
After years of pursuing Kaga Yubinuki, a traditional Japanese thimble, Nozomi launched “Atelier Ricca” in Kyoto in 2021. She creates not only traditional Yubinukis but also thread jewelry woven with silk threads, applying the techniques she acquired through Yubinuki creation.
Nozomi was a member of Cohana's creative team when the brand was launched.
Since becoming independent from Cohana, she has been creating delicate and beautiful artworks one after another with her new sensibility and traditional techniques. She also actively holds workshops to spread the joy of making.
The article will be divided into two parts, Vol. 3 and Vol. 4. In this first part, we asked Nozomi about her relationship with Cohana, her handmade history, how she became a professional, Kaga Yubinuki, and more.
Please share your relationship with Cohana
I was part of the creative team during the launch of Cohana. I was in charge of color selection, product planning, and photography. For me, Cohana is still a very special brand, so I am very happy to see the current expansion of the product line.
Cohana's tools are user-friendly and are great to receive as a gift. The brand integrates both quality and design, which I find attractive from a seller's point of view.... so Cohana products are currently available at my atelier/shop.
How did your creative journey begin?
When I was a child, I loved to draw. A picture book author was my dream, so I went to an art college. Eventually, I became more interested in lifestyle goods, especially fabrics. After studying textile dyeing, I was fortunate enough to be involved in the planning of Cohana.
Among the various projects I worked on at Cohana, I still remember proposing Cohana’s basic colors based on traditional Japanese colors, and seeing them being adopted. Painting, dyeing, Cohana, and my current occupation Yubinuki creator... It may seem like a winding road, but looking back, I have come this far with “a love of color" at the core of everything I do.
I first encountered Kaga Yubinuki at a workshop I attended during a trip to Kanazawa. It hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I have been fascinated by Yubinuki ever since. Now I have my atelier/shop in Kyoto and have been selling my work as well as offering in-person and online Yubinuki classes.
How did your love of Yubinuki become your career?
While working in product planning at Cohana, I also spent my time at home making Yubinukis. Through my work, I naturally had more opportunities to meet makers who earned their living through handicrafts. Gradually, those connections turned into admiration, and I developed a strong desire to create things with my own hands, which led me to decide to become independent.
From the beginning, I wanted to pursue both creating and teaching Yubinuki, so I felt it was essential to have a “place” of my own. I decided to set up my atelier/shop in Kyoto, a place deeply connected to silk and familiar to me in the Kansai region.
Please explain about Kaga Yubinuki
Yubinuki is a kind of Japanese thimble. Kaga Yubinuki is a traditional handicraft originating in Kanazawa in the historic Kaga region.
The Yubinuki tradition began with seamstresses who made kimonos. They crafted their own thimbles from leftover threads and fabric.
Over time, Yubinuki evolved into small works of art known for their delicate colors and beauty. While practical as a sewing tool, Yubinuki is also enjoyed as a collector's item and a decorative piece because of its wide variety of designs, colors, and lightness.
Kaga Yubinuki is mainly used for handicrafts that require hand sewing, such as Japanese Kimono making.
It is also highly practical as a sewing tool, offering several advantages over leather and metal thimbles.
Because a leather ring thimble has an elastic band at the back, the needle always strikes the same area. By contrast, Yubinuki can be rotated, allowing every part of its surface to be used and making it last much longer.
With a metal thimble, the needle can slip and hurt your other fingers. However, the surface of Yubinuki is wrapped with silk threads, allowing the needle to catch on the threads, so there is little risk of the needle slipping. Even so, Kaga Yubinuki is still a consumable tool, and thread breakage and wear can occur over time.
For those who use Kaga Yubinuki frequently, making a new one each year, as people did in the past, helps keep it beautiful.
I still use a Yubinuki I made years ago. Having a beautiful Yubinuki to work with makes my work more enjoyable and helps it go more smoothly.
Please tell us about the fascination of Yubinuki
I think the appeal of Kaga Yubinuki lies in the beautiful colors of the silk threads and the depth of its patterns. When crafting a Yubinuki, beautifully colored silk threads are packed closely together and carefully arranged, gradually forming intricate patterns. I was fascinated by how different the colors looked when seen as single threads and when layered together. As someone who has always loved color, Kaga Yubinuki felt like a jewel that could be created by hand.
As you explore it more deeply, you'll find it fascinating to create endless new designs as the patterns come together, just like solving a puzzle. There is no limit to the combinations of designs and colors. You will never get tired of it.
I could go on talking about patterns for a long time, so I'll stop here... I guess I get a little carried away when I talk about them.
Please show us your most recent work
Snowmen with a Yubinuki scarf
This is a limited-edition winter kit. While I enjoy making Yubinuki itself, I also like creating seasonal decorations with it and exploring new possibilities to use it. My experience at Cohana, where I was constantly thinking about how to combine local industries and handicraft tools, has been put to good use.
The delicate beauty of the traditional Japanese thimble Yubinuki is truly fascinating. While its appearance is striking, it is also practical. It would be wonderful to have a chance to try using it and make one. If there were a Yubinuki in a sewing box, it would surely bring more joy to crafting.
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Nozomi's Favorite Cohana Shigaraki Ware Button Magnet |
Basically, I use only one needle when making Yubinuki, so I often use the Shigaraki Ware Button Magnet while working. The needle stays firmly in place on the magnet, making it easy to put down and pick up. It is also useful for picking up dropped needles.
And above all, it’s just so cute. It’s small, colorful, and goes perfectly with my Yubinukis!
