Spotlight: Naomi Ichikawa, Author and Editor

Naomi Ichikawa was intrigued by the stories of American quilts when she was a student. After graduating from college, she joined the editorial staff of a home decorating magazine and was put in charge of the quilting page. The rest is history. She has been editor of a quilting magazine, publisher and authored several books on quilting.

How did you find yourself interested in textile art and quilts?

As a generation that spent our youth in the 1980s and 90s, we were greatly influenced by the new culture that arrived from America like waves crashing on the shore one after another. I admired and became fascinated with American books, music, movies, fashion, ideas, and especially, the way women went about their daily lives. We considered America to be a place that was free, and hopeful, and that culture was intriguing. 

Beginning in the late 1970s, and especially during the 80s when I was a student, American quilts were making their way to Japan and I was intrigued by the story that antique quilts were made from scraps of cloth, and sewn by mothers for their families, and that they were originally bed covers. I felt that quilting was an art I had never seen before, and I was captivated. It was also a surprise to find such simple and beautiful art alongside cool American culture. Quilting has a particular appeal to Japanese women who were in their 30s to 50s at the time. This was the beginning of the history of quilting in Japan.

From the beginning, I was more interested in the historical background and stories behind quilts, rather than in making them. While I was still in college, I vaguely thought that I would like to study quilts someday. After graduating from university, I joined the editorial staff of a home decorating magazine and was put in charge of the quilting page. This was the early days of quilting in Japan, and it was very popular as a craft for home decorating. From then on, my involvement with the world of quilting and other fabric crafts and art expanded, and I began the first of many trips to America and Europe. I served as editor-in-chief of Patchwork Tsushin, the first specialized quilting magazine published in Japan, for over 20 years. I’ve spent my whole career growing alongside the development of the quilting world.

Tell us more about the influence of kawaii in the art of quilting. 

I think the tendency to like “kawaii” is especially strong among Japanese people. In fact, “kawaii” in Japan originally meant something small and girly, but now it has become a broader term, and it can mean not only girly things, but also things of any gender, such as cool things, beautiful things, and even quirky things like grandma’s fashion.

Anything that is “nice” is “kawaii.” This is a feeling unique to Japanese people, and it is difficult to explain. In the world of quilting, there are many people who create quilts that are full of the so-called classic “kawaii,” such as detailed, elaborate, and realistic appliqué. In this book, Teresa Duryea Wong and I have collected quilts that are packed with the ultimate expression of “kawaii.” I’m sure you’ll be amazed by the small and cute world when you see the book.

Textiles have played an important role in the many celebrations in Japan, including Hina Matsuri. Share a bit about the traditions of Hina Matsuri.

Hina Matsuri is one of the Japanese festivals and is an important event to pray for the growth of girls. When a girl is born, her first festival on March 3rd is celebrated with a big celebration by the family. After that, women celebrate March 3rd every year for the rest of our lives. On Hina Matsuri, dolls are displayed. The Emperor and Empress are displayed in the center of the doll stand, and traditional dolls accompanied by three court ladies, five musicians, and the Minister of the Right and the Minister of the Left are arranged according to custom. Many displays also include tiny furniture and peach blossoms. Homes and businesses also display hanging decorations (mobiles), and families share many sweets in pink, mint green, and red that are only eaten during this season. 

Hina Matsuri is a happy day surrounded by sweet, warm, and cute things. Hina Matsuri is not just a festival for little girls, but a special day that Japanese women celebrate, even after they get married and become grandmothers, and everyone has a lot of good memories, which I think is why we especially like “cute” things.

The tradition of making handmade dolls and decorations to display with Hina dolls is very strong in various parts of Japan and has been passed down to the present day. Many are made using scraps of kimono fabric, and each region has its own unique aesthetic. Many young people are attracted now to carrying on the tradition of handmade Hina dolls. 

If you have the opportunity to come to Japan and would like to experience the roots of kawaii culture, be sure to come during Hina Matsuri. Not only are there celebrations in each household from early February to early April, but there are also various Hinamatsuri events held all over the country, so you are sure to experience the “kawaii” culture. Our new book has a great list of places to go to celebrate Hina Matsuri and what to expect at these traditional celebrations. 

What is the most important takeaway you want readers to gain from your new book, Kawaii Applique Quilts from Japan, that you co-authored with Teresa Duryea Wong?

There are many different kinds of quilts in the world. Japanese quilts include quilts with unique indigo and taupe colors, graphic quilts using gorgeous kimono fabrics, and figurative picture quilts, etc. Our book introduces a unique genre of Japanese quilts that have not been mentioned much until now. 

Quilts that are particularly popular among Japanese people are the ones made from thousands of pieces of tiny applique that compete for the most detailed and intricate designs, and they incorporate a “kawaii” taste throughout. Quilts are made all over the world, and each unique expression is always linked to historical and cultural backgrounds, as well as ethnic tastes. Teresa and I explain how Japan’s history influenced “kawaii” appliqué quilts, and we hope readers will learn more about Japan and the Japanese people through these stories.

When you ask Japanese quilters, “Why did you make this quilt? Why did you use this color?,” you will probably hear the same answer. “Because I just like it. There is no reason.” The creators unconsciously draw the sensibility that is unique to the Japanese people that they have inherited from their ancestors into their quilts. I believe my job is to “unravel” the invisible, and I am grateful to Teresa for observing Japanese quilts from an American perspective and discovering something different from what I have observed.

You have been editor of Yomiuri Quilt Time. What are the shifts you’ve seen in fiber and quilting arts over time?

I have been chief editor of Patchwork Tsushin, Yomiuri Quilt Time, and Quilt Diary Japan. I’ve been a keen observer of the development of quilting in Japan from the beginning. Starting from something handmade and familiar to us, then becoming self-expression, exploring the unique Japanese aesthetic, and finally being recognized around the world. Quilting in Japan started with admiration for America, and little by little we became good friends with America. I think that the things we’ve learned from America through quilting have made Japanese people infinitely happier.

I’ve also discovered one very important thing. That is, Japanese people like to savor the details of their work, and quilters are patient and committed to making each stitch the finest it can be. 

Details are particularly important, and in recent years, many quilters have focused on quilts with incredible appliqué. Nowadays, people of all ages love and enjoy quilting. Some make quilts and enjoy using them at home. Others create them as art. In the fashion field, quilted geometric patterns and the cool colors of vintage quilts are all the rage for both men and women, and this winter in particular, there are a lot of quilted clothes on the market. Older quilt enthusiasts are creating communities through quilting and enjoying life. 

I want to say: “Quilts are kawaii.” Quilting has firmly taken root in Japan and will continue into the future.

How does your environment influence your creativity?

My father is a geologist and attended a university in the United States, and I think that his experiences have influenced me in the way that in order to learn about the unknown, I love to travel to new places, and with my own eyes, I patiently dig and dig and dig until I understand a place and its people.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

This is not advice, but the Japanese philosopher Tenshin Okakura once said, “Asia is one,” and that is my goal. I have quietly hoped that we could transcend borders, ethnicities, and religious barriers, join hands with our neighbors, and strive for a better ideal. Now, that goal has expanded to become “the world is one.”

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

I have edited countless magazines and books. I have also written the following books: 
“Prince Edward Island: Christmas with Quilts” (Patchwork Tsushin, 2002)
“Quilts in Prince Edward Island in Canada” (Patchwork Tsushin, 2003) 
“Quilts in Britain”  (Patchwork Tsushin, 2007) 
“Quilts in America”  (Patchwork Tsushin, 2015). 

I also have another book due out in 2025 featuring patchwork patterns. 

I am especially passionate about curating, and I have curated dozens of quilt exhibitions in Japan and around the world including France, the U.K., Italy, and America. In addition, I’ve also curated countless exhibitions of Japanese quilts for shows in the U.S., Russia, Italy, South Africa, Hungary, Spain, etc. Most recently, I have partnered with the Modern Quilt Guild to curate exhibitions of modern quilts in Japan.  

I sometimes post on Instagram @qd_quiltdiary

I have interviewed several Japanese quilt artists for the American series “Textile Talks.” and those are available free on YouTube.

Yoko Sekita
TEXTILE TALK: Yoko Sekita’s One-Of-A-Kind Quilt World, presented by SAQAyoutu.be

Yoshie Tokutake　(Dec.18, 2024)
Emiko Fujimoto (coming soon)
Yoshiko Jinzenji (coming soon)

Interview posted December 2024

Read our interview with Teresa Duryea Wong