Last weekend was the amazing "Handmade in Japan Fes 2014" at Tokyo Big Sight. The building itself is astonishing.
It reminds me of a scene in 'Men in Black' where Will Smith is told that the observation towers at Flushing Meadows Park in NY are actually the first spacecraft that landed on Earth that couldn't take off again.
Standing underneath it is fairly imposing.
The bit I was going to was in the basement and consisted of two huge exhibition halls full of, I would guess, 2000-3000 exhibitors. These were quality stands too with many vendors looking completely professional with very nicely designed tables. Prices were high - high enough for you to be sure these people had taken into account the time they had put into making these things - so my haul wasn't enormous even though I spent almost £60. However, it is all gorgeous stuff which I am very happy to have brought home.
From top left, clockwise, we have a kanzashi hair elastic, leather cat ring, knitted hair pin bows (kawaii!), blue leather button pin, wooden cat shapes and a more elaborate kanzashi hair slide. I also came back with 150+ photos and a huuuge stack of business cards which I have whittled down and combined below so you can see how I could easily have spent ten times what I did.
Mother Tree - screen printed t's, leggings and tights.
Akkaakka.com - beautifully hand painted clothes for children and adults.
Naoki Onogawa - the tiniest origami cranes you have ever seen turned into exquisite jewellery.
Pampshade - bread products that are actually lamps. Yes. Lamps.
Machu Picchu - handmade shoes. Polka dot heaven! They run a one day workshop but it is in another part of Japan. But still...shoe making....
Tsumami Kanoha: This lady is one severely talented Kanzashi maker. The second photo below is the clip that I bought. These were not cheap - and rightly so considering the work that goes into them. My clip was almost £20 so you can imagine how much those huge ones cost.
Gunyan Yanko: I've not seen anything like these before. Strips of leather with bendy metal inside that you wrap around your finger, wrist, pen, bag strap etc. The people on the stand were awesome too. The woman was uber enthusiastic and the man saw me coming and grabbed a little sign they'd made explaining what they were in english - and that each one is unique because they are all hand drawn. I bought a ginger cat ring.
Tokimeki Gabriel: Mental stuff. Very kawaii and lolita but with a kind of sparkly-goth vibe too. It was all painted plastic so quite light. The owner is below in the red dress. The chess piece type things are about £25 each!
Nekkosippo: Lovely handmade washi tape cabinets. This is also where I got the wooden cat shapes from.
Kato Koto Panda: This is silly stuff - light plastic models of pandas sandwiched in various foods, including sandwiches. Loads more photos at the link.
Koge Neko: Cat collars and....bandanas. Odd.
Zassou: An unusual combination of chemistry cartoon stickers/badges and things made from tiny felt nubs. My heart was with the stickers although I did walk away empty handed.
Deme Tyoubi: Amazing felted goldfish.
Tuan Tuan: Bags made from feedbags.
Kokechi: Kawaii! Similar to kokeshi dolls but specifically stylised. I had to buy the cat one below.
Mine is already part of cat village on the kitchen shelf.
Matori: Interesting earrings, even for someone without pierced ears.
Chou Chou: Brooches made of fake succulent plants. Actually very pretty!
Sai Design: Wire whatnots wrapped in silk.
Placebo Parade Orchestra: Constellation and other finely made gold and silver jewellery.
Michicusa: To me, these look like broccoli florets. But then what do I know.
Yuki: Another kanzashi stall and where I got my hair band.
Maito Parta: Oh my goodness I was tempted by the astronaut badges. But £25 each? I couldn't justify it.
Number Zoo: Very simple concept - animals with numbers as part of their bodies. I loved the 8's!
Yuchitana: Very pretty hair spangles.
Karate Gal: Very impressively embellished bags and purses.
Tomorrow, more photos and the workshops!
