Friday, September 18, 2025
- 1 Hokuryu Town and Creema pave the way for a new future for handmade crafts and the region
- 2 Creema connects Hokuryu Town's warm-hearted craftsmanship and future challenges - craftsmanship fosters connections between the heart and the town -
- 2.1 Tsumami-zaiku Workshop: Japanese flowers created through delicate handiwork
- 2.2 Sakiami Workshop: Creativity of "regeneration" born from free thinking
- 2.3 Creema How-to Seminar: A learning opportunity to open up the future for creators
- 2.4 Closing remarks by Director General for Policy Studies, Katsuyoshi Takahashi
- 3 YouTube videos
- 4 Other photos
- 5 Related articles and sites
Hokuryu Town and Creema pave the way for a new future for handmade crafts and the region
Overall structure and purpose of the workshop
In order for Hokuryu Town to create and realize a new future for the town together with local residents and diverse external talent, the town partnered with Creema Co., Ltd. to hold a workshop aimed at refining local resources and attractions, and building the future of the region through manufacturing and sales skills. The workshop consisted of Tsumami Zaiku in the morning, Saki Kami in the afternoon, and a seminar on how to use Creema to gain sales knowledge.
- Organizer/Cooperator:Hokuryu Town x Creema Co., Ltd. (Operator of Japan's largest handmade marketplace)
- Speakers:Tsumami-zaiku (Torimachizuki), Saki-ami (Chiko), Seminar (Yuki Ohashi, Director and Co-founder of Creema Co., Ltd.)
- the purpose:Creating the future through regional development and manufacturing, and strengthening sales capabilities
Creema connects Hokuryu Town's warm-hearted craftsmanship and future challenges - craftsmanship fosters connections between the heart and the town -
In collaboration with Creema, Japan's largest handmade marketplace, the town of Hokuryu hosted its first workshop. The event aims to highlight the local resources and attractions, and through craftsmanship, to foster a warm-hearted "system" in the small town and to foster "creative talent," including children.
Tsumami-zaiku Workshop: Japanese flowers created through delicate handiwork
The morning workshop was led by Tsumami craftsman Torimachizuki, who taught participants how to make delicate and beautiful tsumami zaiku.
Instructor profile: Torimachizuki (Tsumami craftsman)
- title: Tsumami-zaiku dyeing artist and artist
- Portrait: He is one of the tsumami zaiku artists of the traditional Japanese craft, "Tsumami Zaiku." He is an artisan who started by dyeing the fabric himself, and has gained popularity for his works that combine tradition with modern sensibilities.
- Achievements: In addition to being featured in magazines and holding classes, she has published books such as "Have fun with Tsumami Zaiku using colors from familiar materials" (Asahi Original) and "An easy Tsumami Zaiku book to start with making accessories" (Nihon Bungeisha).
- This role: We will lead a tsumami zaiku workshop with the theme of sunflowers, the symbol of Hokuryu Town.
🌍Creema, a marketplace for handmade and creative works
Tsumami-zaiku's Torimachizuki:https://www.creema.jp/c/waiting_bird
Workshop Start
The instructor carefully taught the participants how to make the petals, and with serious expressions on their faces, they used scissors and tweezers to fold the fabric. Even though they were unfamiliar with the technique, the instructor carefully supported them, and the atmosphere in the venue gradually became one of concentration.
The finished product was a beautiful sunflower corsage with petals. It is a two-way design, so it can be used as a hair accessory or a brooch. The participants expressed their joy, saying things like, "It turned out so cute!" and "It's so fun!"
Sakiami Workshop: Creativity of "regeneration" born from free thinking
The afternoon workshop will be with Sakikumi artist Chiko.
Instructor profile: Chiko (Sakiami Artist)
- title: Sakiami Artist
- Portrait: Based on the concept of "creating new value with what's already there," she self-taught herself and developed "Sakiami." She is an evangelist for the joy of creation, aiming to create opportunities for everyone to shine through craftsmanship.
- Achievements: By expanding her activities through exhibitions and workshops in various locations, the appeal of Sakiami has spread both domestically and internationally, and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including on television and in magazines.
- This role: We will be in charge of workshops where participants can freely make accessories and miscellaneous goods, and will support their pure desire to ``try it out.''
🌍Creema, a marketplace for handmade and creative works
Blooming knitting artist chiko:https://www.creema.jp/c/sorrindoflor
Workshop Start
Participants were able to tear up old clothes and other fabrics and freely create accessories, interior goods, etc. Mountains of colorful fabric scraps were piled on the tables, and participants' eyes lit up as they chose their favorite materials.
Chiko said, "Mix your favorite colors and create freely," and the participants combined fabrics in their own way. Using thicker fabrics creates a more three-dimensional look, while using thinner fabrics creates a delicate feel. The participants seemed to enjoy the joy of creating freely without being bound by preconceived notions.
Commemorative photo with the finished work
Creema How-to Seminar: A learning opportunity to open up the future for creators
Finally, a seminar was held by Yuki Ohashi, co-founder and director of Creema Inc.
Lecturer profile: Yuki Ohashi, Director
- title: Co-founder and Director of Creema Inc. / Events and Business Alliance Div. GM
- Portrait: He was instrumental in launching and growing the real-life event business of "Creema," Japan's largest handmade marketplace. In recent years, he has been a key figure in driving regional revitalization projects that use the power of creators to revitalize local areas.
- Achievements: He launched and oversees all real-world services at Creema, including event management such as "HandMade In Japan Fes' (Tokyo Big Sight)," Japan's largest creator festival, and "Creema YAMABIKO FES," an outdoor music and craft festival, as well as business alliances with government agencies, local governments, and companies, and regional revitalization activities.
- This role: He is the lecturer for the "How to Use Creema Seminar" and the mastermind behind the entire collaboration project with Hokuryu Town.
🌍 Creema│Japan's largest handmade marketplace
https://www.creema.jp/
Seminar Start
Ohashi is also actively committed to regional revitalization, and he gave a lecture on tips for local creators to thrive, including specific examples such as the case of a creator who lives in two places.
The seminar shared practical information such as know-how for online sales and how to utilize the Creema platform. Participants listened attentively and showed an attitude of wanting to use what they learned as reference for their future activities.
Creema How-to Seminar: Q&A
During the question and answer session held after the seminar, Instructor Ohashi carefully answered each of the specific questions from the participants.
- Concerns about sales
- Q. What kind of items are selling well?
- A. Creema's website displays rankings for each category. Please use the works listed in the rankings as a reference for best sellers.
- Sales from rural areas
- Q. Even if I live in the countryside, can I sell my work in the same way as creators in Tokyo?
- A. Yes, when it comes to selling online, your place of residence does not matter, so you can sell in the same way whether you are in Tokyo or Hokuryu Town.
First, gain experience by participating in various markets. - Future outlook
- Q. Do you have any upcoming events planned in Hokkaido?
- A. The Sunflower Town Craft Marche will be held at Hokuryu Town Community Center on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th. Approximately 30 exhibitors, including both Creema creators and local creators, will be gathering, so we hope you will come along.
Closing remarks by Director General for Policy Studies, Katsuyoshi Takahashi
"Thank you very much for all the valuable talks you shared with us today.
For the town, this is not the end, but just the beginning. We are also planning another event in October. We hope that people will give it a try, as they did this time, and gain opportunities to talk to a variety of people and gain experience. We hope that today will be the catalyst for that. We hope that by making use of these connections with people, people will be able to turn these wonderful experiences into opportunities to improve themselves. Thank you for today," concluded Director General Takahashi.
This event was more than just a workshop; it was a wonderful opportunity to connect the passion for "manufacturing" that Hokuryu residents have with the knowledge and skills of outside creators. It is hoped that this exchange will give rise to new creators in Hokuryu and further promote the town's appeal.
We send our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the wonderful work of Creema, whose exciting handmade crafts that adorn our daily lives connect us with skilled creators, elevate the stage to a higher level, and lead us to a more enjoyable and fulfilling world...
YouTube videos
Other photos
Related articles and sites
