A female traditional craftsman that Japan can be proud of

Ueda Tamako, a female traditional craftsperson who has been featured on this website, won the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award and the Dyeing Art Exhibition Award, the exhibition's top prizes, at the "Somegei Exhibition," a Tokyo hand-painted yuzen competition and exhibition that is held over three days every year, which was held for a half day this time only for those involved due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ueda listens carefully to the thoughts and feelings of her clients and then puts her heart into creating her pieces, fully incorporating those thoughts.

In parallel with this, for the KIMONO PROJECT, a major project to create furisode (long-sleeved kimono) inspired by 196 countries and regions around the world in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, she created a wonderful furisode kimono that embodies a strong desire for peace, with thoughts directed towards the people of Afghanistan, the country suffering the most from war in the world

Video of the 100-nation Completion Ceremony: Work by Ueda Tamako, 3 minutes 48 seconds -
In today's world, only flashy things are talked about, but "compassion" and "warmth" are always more modest. Ueda's thoughts, which are put into each piece, brighten our spirits, just like when we wear a colorful furisode kimono. Looking at Ueda, I could really feel that God is "watching over us."