Japanese quilting has developed under the influence of American quilting. Many quilters have received recognition, winning awards in international competitions, being invited to exhibitions, and publishing books.
Perhaps the most well-known Japanese quilts are those that use traditional Japanese fabrics such as indigo-dyed fabrics and kimono cloth, blending American quilting with a Japanese sensibility. In recent years, art quilts and machine-quilted quilts have also gained recognition. Miniature quilts and quilts with intricate details have also been appreciated, and seem to be accepted as works distinct from American and other countries' quilts.
My experience as editor-in-chief of a quilting magazine for over 20 years, where I have closely observed various Japanese quilts and met and spoken with countless artists, has made me realize that Japanese quilting is deeply intertwined with Japanese culture and society, and its expression stems from the sensibilities and aesthetics we have inherited from our ancestors.
“Kawaii” also has its roots in the merchant culture of the Edo period. In fact, even earlier, from the end of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century, the Japanese had a culture of admiring cute things (small, immature, and childish things) (mentioned in books), and this culture has been passed down from generation to generation. These include the many girls' manga that appeared during Japan's post-war period of economic growth (the 1970s), as well as the elaborate miniature items and dolls that came with sweets. Every day was filled with cute things. These sensibilities and tastes are unconsciously expressed in quilts as detailed, cute, small, and childish expressions. I realized this when I came across the quilts that will be exhibited this time. In my work, I have seen many different types of quilts, but I have seen more and more quilts over the past 10 years.
It was surprising to see these quilts gaining recognition at international quilt competitions. They're distinctly different from the indigo-dyed and kimono-fabric quilts of the past, yet they possess a uniquely Japanese expression. They're clearly different from quilts from other countries, creating a unique world. Furthermore, the artists are roughly the same age (55-65 years old), slightly younger than the generation of quilters who produced indigo-dyed and kimono-fabric quilts. They are the generation that spent their girlhood during Japan's economic growth period, surrounded by cute things.
I would love to showcase this new Japanese quilt (quilts created from inherited ways of thinking and aesthetics) at QuiltCon, an event that has embraced new American quilt sensibilities. Behind every expression, there is always a background and a reason. I hope you can learn about Japanese culture, especially Kawaii culture, through these quilts. I would also love to share stories about Kawaii culture and my own girlhood surrounded by an unusually large amount of Kawaii in a lecture.