EXCLUSIVE 'Ōtsuchi Sashiko Ladies' Bag Kits

Ōtsuchi Sashiko Bag Kits

'I want women living in evacuation to find joy and hope to live again through needlework'

With this in mind, five volunteers started the "Ōtsuchi Reconstruction Sashiko Project"

After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11th 2011, many residents of Ōtsuchi in Iwate Prefecture faced unimaginable loss - their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods swept away.

Amid this devastation, a group of women found a way to reclaim hope. Living in an evacuation shelter, what these women picked up to rebuild their lives was sashiko. Holding a needle and thread in hand gave them the strength to move forward, and they began to make sashiko items as a way to encourage themselves and their families.

The women, calling themselves 'Sashiko Ladies', had actually never done sashiko before. They helped and uplifted each other as they learned. With each stitch they found strength, healing, and a renewed sense of community, supporting themselves and their families through the most difficult times, whilst healing their spirits through shared time and heartfelt conversations. Even now, they continue to do sashiko with gratitude for each moment and for those who support them.

In collaboration with the Ōtsuchi Reconstruction Sashiko Project, these six beautiful and distinctive sashiko bag kits were planned and developed. The patterns, colours and usability were carefully considered, creating a collection filled with the spirit of wishing for recovery and the joy of crafting.

Japan Crafts has been given exclusive permission by the Ōtsuchi Sashiko Ladies to offer these kits to customers in the UK. We have worked with Itonowa in Japan to translate the instructions into English, and are delighted to connect you to the ladies through bags with a unique tale to tell.

You can read more about the Ōtsuchi Sashiko Ladies here