member event
Members Exclusive: Tomo Yoshizawa at V&A Dundee
Sunday 12 May
An in-conversation event about the art of kimono making
In celebration of Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, this illustrated talk from journalist and cultural translator Tomo Yoshizawa will discuss kimono making in the context of Mingei - a revolutionary cultural movement in Japan intended to identify and treasure the beauty of the handmade works produced by anonymous craftsmen, each one created amidst the climate of the local region and its specific daily needs.
As a direct descendant of Rikizo Munehiro, a Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Tomo will also introduce Munehiro's kimono works while delving into Mingei’s influence on contemporary makers and craftsmen, along with the relationship between maker and user.
This event is co-organised with the Japan Foundation.
About the speaker:
As founder of Wisdom Toolkit, Yoshizawa writes, translates, and interviews in the fields of Japanese crafts and culture, with the aim of providing authentic understanding and universal relatability in a modern context. Following a career at MTV Japan and in retail within the Japanese craft sector, Yoshizawa was the Tokyo government’s inaugural appointee as international public relations for culture in the lead up to the 2020 Olympics.
Born into a family of craftspeople. Yoshizawa's grandfather, Munehiro Rikizo, was named a Holder of Intangible Important Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for tsumugi, pongee silk, weaving. Her father is a koto craftsman ( stringed musical instrument) and her mother was a weaver.