Hello, everyone.
Summer is almost over.
I’m starting to hear the chirping of Fall insects.
Japanese people also notice the charm of the sounds of birds, insects, wind and rain.
Amigurumi season is approaching again!
And, the World Amigurumi Exhibition is returning again after a 1 year break!
Many unique amigurumi will gather from all corners of the world.
Of course, I will participate in it too!!!
I am in the middle of making my own works now.
I’m sure eveyrone’s going to love them.
This year’s theme is “Endangered Species”.
I thought long and hard about this theme.
As a member of the international community, as a Japanese artist, I would like to advocate the importance to protect the species on the list together with the amigurumi artists around the world at the exhibition.
This time, I would like to talk about my ideas and thoughts of “Protecting endangered and wild animals with Amigurumi”.
“Save the wild animals” is a consistent theme in my works when l create an animal that looks realistic.
In addition, love for animal’s habitat is important as well.
This is an Amigurumi Animal’s head hunting trophy.
The trophy hunter shoots the animals out of vanity and egotistic ideas.
And, they kill it in order to collect a bounty.
Why do you do things like that? That’s terrible!
You ought not to be cruel to animals.
They wanted to live!
“Don’t kill animals!! Please enjoy looking my work instead!!” This work was made with that wish.
This is an Amigurumi Fox (Vulpes) neckpiece.
It was awarded a top prize in the accessory apparel section, Mohair contest in Japan in 2019.
Source: https://www.jhia.org/project/mohair
The concept:
Neckpieces made of fox fur was popular among middle-aged women when I was a kid.
Even as a child, I felt that it was cruel.
In the present, we should respect all lives.
Faux fur is the best.
High quality mohair enables the expression of a wild coat.
I think that it is the ultimate way to protect animals, reproduce them in similar qualities and create a nostalgic neckpiece.
This is an Orangutan amigurumi.
His name is Orang Fujita.
They are being designated as endangered species’.
I started having an interest in the preservation of endangered species or natural areas from the time I created Orang.
It has been three or more years already.
Orang and I are both looking for a way to save orangutan in our own ways.
Please give me your advice if you have any ideas.
By the way, Orang and I joined WWF’s Earth Hour 2019 that Mr. Hiroshi Sasaki (Pro-Naturalist) introduced to me.
I think there are different values, different cultures, and difference in religion in each country.
This is common sense and accepted in the olden days.
As one of them, Japan has long been making handicrafts with ivory.
I play the koto.
The plectrum (used for playing a koto) is made of ivory.
My ivory plectrum is almost 30 years old.
Of course I don’t intend to sell it.
I will value it for the rest of my life.
However, plastic plectrums are now popular for use with the koto.
We have to protect the natural environment.
And, we must preserve endangered and wild animals.
I pursue the possibilities of amigurumi.
Let’s save the animals of world with our amigurumi!
It’s here where I have to say that we could use your help and your insights, your collaborative participation.
With your kindness, we can create a more caring world.
◆ 5th World Amigurumi Exhibition in NY ◆
● December 9, 2019 – March 31, 2020
● RESOBOX LIC (41-26 27th St, Long Island City, NY 11101)
Okay, that’s all for today.
Thank you for reading.
Until next time….. Happy Amigurumi~~~!