Kotori Shoten

Kotori/KTR hand-paints animals, colour and rows of eyes onto Daruma from Shirakawa, Fukushima — each piece finished one at a time, with no two ever alike.

From Shirakawa to Sendai

Kotori/KTR grew up in Shirakawa, Fukushima, and has run Shirakawa Daruma hand-painting workshops since 2018. Now based in Sendai, they wanted to bring a piece of home into local events — and that idea became the starting point for everything that followed.

Born From a Workshop Sample

A single sample piece made for a workshop drew requests from visitors who wanted one of their own. That response is what turned a workshop demo into a body of work.

What’s in Each Motif

Owls and cats are recurring characters — owls linked to good fortune through Japanese wordplay, cats reimagining the classic beckoning-cat motif in the artist’s own style. Look closely and you’ll find eyes, many of them. For Kotori/KTR, repeated eyes express a protective gaze, a wish to watch over whoever brings the piece home. The character 福 carries the artist’s own wish for good things to come.

No two designs are ever the same. I follow inspiration, and paint what I myself would want to own.

Where the Work Happens

Much of this work happens face to face — at workshops, markets, music festivals and mural projects. For Kotori/KTR, the conversations and reactions that happen in these moments are at the heart of making things.

At Soi YIPUN

At Soi YIPUN, the first pieces introduced are hand-painted works using Shirakawa Daruma as their base. Kotori Shoten plans to bring other kinds of work here over time, beyond Daruma alone.

To learn more about the culture behind the Daruma itself — its self-righting form, the eye-painting custom and regional differences — read our story.

For original postcards illustrated by Kotori on handmade washi, explore Sendai Yanagiu Handmade Washi.