This is a special interview held during the Nishijin Textile Exhibition “Revive! Japan’s Strength, Revive! Nishijin’s Strength,” which begins on January 8th.

 Japan’s spirituality is unique in the world. Even technologies introduced from other countries were refined by this rare spirit, giving rise to a distinct culture. Beginning with the Buddhist flower offerings that emerged alongside the arrival of Buddhism, leading to the development of flower arrangement, tea ceremony, incense appreciation, and other practices, these foreign cultures were adapted into the Japanese style. They were cultivated into beautiful spiritual traditions and are passed down to the present day.

Nishijin weaving is one such craft that flourished through its own refinement, yet it now faces the challenge of survival in today’s Japan, where demand is scarce due to the near disappearance of kimono culture.

This Nishijin Textile Exhibition is an initiative by the Nishijin International Museum of Art, which has boldly shifted its focus to art, aiming to communicate its value both within Japan and internationally.

Tomiya Textiles’ sales activities for Nishijin textiles utilizing their specialized techniques have already been tested with works by renowned artists. However, to further amplify their value as a catalyst, they have now selected works by the innovative contemporary painter Fumio Shiozawa.

The work “Cosmic Dragon” by Mr. Shiozawa, dedicated to Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine, is making a strong impression on modern viewers. They judged that the richness of its colors, the boldness of its composition, and other elements, fused with the expressive qualities woven by Nishijin textiles, would create an entirely new form of Nishijin art.

The efforts of Nishijin International Museum and Tomiya Textiles to tackle challenging mystical paintings for survival embody the strong curiosity that drove the Japanese of old to discover new things.

This dialogue is a project designed to support that effort.

The theme is “The Gods of Japan’s Traditional Culture”

The source that gives birth to Japan’s traditional culture lies in the Japanese spirit, and to speak of it requires analysis from a cosmic perspective.

Artist Fumio Shiozawa selected Ms. Saara, who possesses cosmic memories, as a guest. He planned this event to view Japanese culture from a fresh perspective, hoping more Japanese people would listen and awaken to their own roots.