Tohoku Women’s Crafting

東北ウーマンクラフト

Empowering Fragile Communities Through Collaborative Work

In 2011, a devastating earthquake struck northern Japan, causing massive damage to both people and the environment. The Three Cranes Association immediately committed to the reconstruction effort, with a particular focus on the city of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, which was completely destroyed by the tsunami.

In close collaboration and long-term partnership with Bernina International, the association donated sewing machinesto Takata High School. This enabled students to process their traumatic experiences through textile crafts in groups and talk about them in a harmonious environment. From this initiative, a community of adults developed, regularly coming together to work on textile crafts and create an income. This is how the Tohoku Women’s Crafting project was born.

For over 12 years, the Three Cranes Association has supported Tohoku Women’s Crafting. These groups consist mainly of older women from Rikuzentakata who suffered severe losses due to the 2011 tsunami and have since lived mostly alone in new homes. With the donated Bernina sewing machines, the women create textile accessories designed by Kazu Huggler, the founder of the Three Cranes Association. The fabrics used come from Japan, including those recycled from old kimonos. The handcrafted accessories, such as bags, cases, and pincushions, are sold in Switzerland, Japan, and online.

The Tohoku Women’s Crafting project creates spaces where older people living alone can regularly come together to work and network. We believe that working in community and the daily structure gained from it form the foundation for mental and physical health. The work structure created by the Three Cranes Association reduces the isolation and loneliness of older people, especially in regions like Rikuzentakata, where aging and related problems are rapidly increasing. Finally, the joy of creative, artistic work with old and new textiles is reflected in the beauty of the colors and patterns of the products crafted by Tohoku Women’s Crafting.