Founder of Musubu STUDIO, reviving traditional Japanese obi and kimono craftsmanship through contemporary design. Yuka transforms vintage textiles into living art, connecting past and future through the philosophy of "Musubu" (to tie, to connect).

During Japan's coming-of-age ceremony — a cultural rite celebrating the beginning of adulthood — my parents gifted me a kimono and an obi, a woven masterpiece shimmering with gold and silver threads. I was mesmerized by its beauty — the quiet glow, the craftsmanship, the emotion woven into every line.

But today, those same symbols of celebration are often found abandoned at flea markets, left in the rain, sold for almost nothing. Japan's traditional craftsmanship, once born from devotion and artistry, is quietly disappearing — unrecognized and undervalued.

I wanted to preserve that beauty — to carry our traditions forward into the future. From that feeling, Musubu STUDIO was born. To revive the obi not as a relic of the past, but as a living piece of art — a new expression of Japanese aesthetics that connects time, culture, and the modern woman.

Musubu means "to tie" or "to connect" in Japanese. And within that simple word lie three wishes — to connect the past and the future, Japan's regions and the world, and people to one another.

Our creations are not merely acts of upcycling. They are acts of re-creation — reviving ancient techniques through the lens of contemporary sensibility, and breathing new life into materials that carry the stories of time and craft.

The word STUDIO reflects our desire to build a space where tradition and innovation intersect, and where new creativity is born. Musubu STUDIO is more than just a brand. It is a place — much like a film studio — where artisans from across Japan and creators from around the world come together to weave new expressions and living stories.

To me, Zen-Luxe means "the art of living in harmony." Between nature and the city, stillness and movement, tradition and the future — I move fluidly between these contrasts, cherishing the quiet beauty and creativity that arise in the spaces in between.

Zen-Luxe is not about outer glamour, but about the richness that begins in inner stillness. It's about being honest with your own senses, and approaching what feels right with care and intention.

A dress made just for me — Kojima denim meeting the gentle soul of a kimono. A clutch, once a vintage obi, now alive again in my hands. These pieces hold more than beauty; they hold a pulse — the breath of the artisan, the warmth of the silk, and a story that continues through me.

That quiet connection between maker and wearer, past and present — is what Zen-Luxe truly means to me.

My home is a forest within the city — a place where urban rhythm and nature coexist in quiet balance.

Every morning, I open the blinds and let the light in. I sip coffee from my favorite cup, watching the green outside my window. Birdsong becomes my morning soundtrack, and in that stillness, I return to my breath.

Balance between stillness and movement doesn't have to be achieved in a single day. Some weeks I move endlessly — meeting people, exchanging ideas, absorbing energy and inspiration. The next, I stay home — slowing down, reflecting, listening inward.

On weekdays, I weave ideas through conversations; on weekends, I climb mountains and breathe deeply in nature. I taste fresh fruit at local markets, and open a handmade bento before a wide, open view — rice balls, local vegetables, nothing extravagant. The landscape itself becomes the perfect spice, and in that simple joy, I feel truly rich.

Stillness and motion. City and nature. Only when both exist together do I feel truly myself.

To me, Zen-Luxe is the creative energy that flows between stillness and movement. It is not a luxury of display or consumption, but a luxury for living — to be, fully and authentically.