The feelings behind the illustration 'Hibiki' and an introduction to Kanazawa's traditional crafts.

My new illustration is finished!

Because I was born and raised in Kanazawa and have felt its traditional culture close to me, I felt there were things that only I could express!

That is one of the reasons why I drew this piece.

I tried to pack it full of all the cute things from Kanazawa (Ishikawa).

I think I drew it super cute♥

I am quite proud of it myself♥

There were days when I couldn't work on it due to housework, childcare, and my job, but

it took me about a month to complete.

The title is 'Hibiki' (meaning 'resonance' or 'echo').

It comes from the 'resonance' of the drums being played at the Tsuzumi-mon gate depicted in the background,

and the 'resonance' of the sound when bouncing the temari ball held in the girl's hand.

That is how I came up with the title.

I would be happy if it resonates with the hearts of those who see it.

I will introduce the traditional crafts and other motifs included in the illustration.

The building in the girl's background 'Tsuzumi-mon Gate'
stands at the Kenrokuen Exit of Kanazawa Station.
It is 17.3 meters tall and was designed with the image of a tsuzumi drum.
Thanks to this scenery, Kanazawa Station was selected as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world.

The girl's kimono 'Kaga Yuzen'
mainly uses unique colors known as the Kaga Gosai (indigo, ocher, grass green, ancient purple, and crimson), which are applied using a shading technique.
It is characterized by the use of natural plant patterns, such as insect-eaten leaves.

The scattered flowers 'Black Lily'
are designated as the local flower of Ishikawa Prefecture. They are alpine plants that can be seen blooming near the summit of Mt. Hakusan in the summer.

The sprinkled gold dust
It is said that in the past, gold dust could be collected from the rivers in Kanazawa.
That is said to be the origin of the thriving gold leaf craft industry.

Top left 'Kaga Shishigashira'
is said to have originated when the people performed a lion dance to celebrate the entry of Lord Toshiie Maeda of the Kaga Domain into the castle. They are displayed in homes for celebrations and as talismans against evil.

Top right 'Kaga Hachiman Okiagari'
is said to have been created to be distributed to children to commemorate the birth of Hachiman-san.
There are also workshops at tourist spots in Kanazawa where you can paint the faces yourself.

Center right 'Kanazawa Wagasa'
umbrella shops were once numerous in Kanazawa during the Meiji and Taisho eras, with over 100 stores, but they have decreased drastically now.
They are characterized by their durability, made by layering Japanese paper and thread multiple times.

Bottom center 'Kutani-yaki'
is a colored porcelain boasting a 360-year history, characterized by its elegant colors centered around the five colors (red, green, yellow, purple, and navy blue).

The scattered flower decorations Kaga Mizuhiki
In the Taisho era, So-kichi Tsuda invented a way to tie Mizuhiki in three dimensions.
They are tied into shapes like cranes, turtles, pine, bamboo, and plum, and are still used for betrothal gifts and money envelopes today.
Nowadays, accessories like hair ornaments and earrings are also made, so you can enjoy wearing them.

Top right Gold leaf soft-serve ice cream
You can eat this at tourist spots in Kanazawa. They place the gold leaf on it right in front of you.
The gold leaf itself has no taste, but it is said to be a popular, photogenic treat.
Kanazawa accounts for 99% of gold leaf production.

Bottom right Kotoji Stone Lantern in Kenrokuen Garden
This is a lantern that represents one of the most iconic views in Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three great gardens.

Bottom left Kaga Temari (handball)
It is said that this tradition began when Princess Tama brought them with her when she married into the Kaga domain from the Tokugawa family during the Edo period. In Kanazawa, the custom of giving them to a bride when she marries still remains.

Center left Kaga dolls
These have been made since the Edo period as dolls given to celebrate the birth of a boy. At Kanazawa Station, there is a mailbox topped with a Kaga doll figurine.

If this illustration makes you interested in Kanazawa,

or makes you think you'd like to go sightseeing in Kanazawa,

I would be happy.

Since last October, I have been developing an NFT collection that conveys the traditional culture of Kanazawa,
called 'Near Future Kanazawa'.

I plan to sell this as one of the pieces in that collection around February.