English Articles

As a costume maker in Japan, I often work on sparkling figure skating costumes or stage outfits.   But behind the scenes, there are moments when my work becomes something much more personal—something that quietly supports someone’s daily life. This is one of those stories. A Parent Ordering a Figure Skating Costume Parents who order figure skating costumes always bring a special kind of warmth.   They come with hopes like: A costume becomes more than clothing.   It becomes a small charm, holding a family’s wishes. Every time I receive an order like this, I’m reminded that what I make carries someone’s emotions. And Then, a Very Different Kind of Order One day, I received a message from a customer who regularly goes to the hospital. “It’s hard to find pants I can wear for medical checkups.   Something without metal, easy to pull up to the thigh, and comfortable even with a back brace.” Hospitals have strict rules: She told me: “There are many people who struggle wit

At the end of the year, I received a message from a family I have known for nearly seven years.   I have created several figure skating costumes for their son, and I’ve also helped his mother with her personal wardrobe from time to time. They are a family I hold very dear. Because of the mother’s work, she and her son have spent long periods living apart.   This upcoming competition was something they were looking forward to — a rare chance to spend the New Year holidays together and enjoy the event as a family. The last time I made a skating costume for him was about three or four years ago.   Since then, injuries and timing made it difficult for him to compete, and naturally, costume-making had been on pause as well. His mother brought the old costume with the idea that “maybe we can adjust the hem and make it work again.” But then— When I saw him again after so long, he was right in the middle of a major growth spurt.   Taller, broader, and carrying the early si

Thoughts from a solo costume designer in Japan Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the true value of wearing beautiful clothing.   As someone who creates custom costumes, this is a question I can’t avoid.   If I rely only on intuition, I can’t fully communicate the meaning behind what I make — and without words, clients can’t truly understand the value of the work. We live in a time where the line between real and virtual is becoming blurred.   Fake news, the metaverse, AI…   I’m fascinated by these new worlds, and I sometimes imagine designing digital garments someday.   But for now, I still find the deepest meaning in the real world — in fabrics, textures, weight, movement, and the human body. In a world full of choices, each of us has to decide which reality feels right.   For me, the physical world still holds a rare and irreplaceable value. Why do beautiful clothes matter? When we talk about human needs, we usually think of the basics:   hunger, sle

The summer sun was heating the windows of my small studio, and the fan gently stirred the edges of the fabrics on my table.   While working, I glanced at my phone. A new notification appeared on my official LINE account — a simple “New Friend Added.”   Nothing unusual. Yet somehow, it felt different. For months, I had been in a quiet struggle.   Working within a small local community, trying new ideas, wondering how to grow.   There were days when I whispered to myself, “What should I do next…” Then a message arrived from that new contact. “I’d like to discuss a costume for a commercial.” My heart jumped.   It felt like a new story had opened on the other side of the screen. I’ve always dreamed that one day, inquiries for custom costumes would come not only from across Japan, but from around the world.   But dreams can feel distant when you’re standing in a small workshop in a small town.   Sometimes I wondered if I should have moved to a big city wh