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WORKS

I create printed materials that use photographs of dolls as illustrations,
produce animations,
create three-dimensional characters using wool felt and photograph them,
and more.
2026
"Picture Book Newsletter" (Hikari no Kuni) cover design
"How to Use Picture Books" - Hikari no Kuni Picture Book Newsletter
We are currently working on creating the cover image, a process that will take place over a one-year period starting in April 2026.
I create illustrations depicting animal families and friends enjoying and playing with picture books.

This is a booklet intended for teachers at nurseries and kindergartens throughout Japan.
The process of creating the dolls and set accessories is also featured on the back cover.

Doll making: Makiko Arai

Photography: Kosuke Ugajin

I made original postcards.
Following the calendar, I've created some original postcards.
There are 7 types in total.
Currently, we sell our products on the online marketplace "minne" and at exhibitions.
We paid close attention to the printing method and paper to create a beautiful and easy-to-write-on card.
There are also postcard sets that include stickers.
2025
Original calendar production for 2026

We have created an original calendar for 2026.

I took photos of wool felt dolls and created designs for each of the 12 months.

I exhibited and sold my work at both group and solo exhibitions.

Doll making: Makiko Arai

Photography: Kosuke Ugajin

2023/2024
NHK E Tele "Inai Inai Baa!" "Baby Anime"

I produced the "Baby Animation" segment of the NHK E-TV program "Inai Inai Baa!".

This combines live-action footage of a baby with animation using embroidery (cross-stitch).

Production year: 2021-2024

We produced a total of 30 units.

NHK E Tele "Inai Inai Baa!" "Little Friends / Mysterious Friends"

This is also an animated segment from NHK E-tele's "Inai Inai Baa!".

"Little Friends" is a stop-motion animation set in a baby's everyday environment, with building blocks, spoons, and socks as the main characters.

This is a small fantasy where slightly mysterious things happen in everyday life.

"Mysterious Friends" are mysterious creatures? "Pitcher and Moo" embark on small adventures in this stop-motion animation.

I am involved in the art and direction.

Production year: 2021 ~ Currently in production

2022
Hamanaka Wool Felt Kit "Fox" and "Squirrel" Designs

I designed the "Fox" and "Squirrel" wool felt kits currently on sale from Hamanaka.

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Patisserie Monte Rosa Yokohama Main Store: Creme character doll production

I created a three-dimensional felted wool version of "Crème," the symbolic character of Patisserie Monte Rosa Yokohama Main Store.

Creme, a cat aspiring to be a pastry chef, is an animation artist known for creating the bubble-pop animation "Nyacki!".

This character was designed by Yuichi Ito.

They're proving invaluable for in-store displays, seasonal events, and pop-up shops at department stores!

"Patisserie Monte Rosa Yokohama Main Store" Website → https://monterosa.yokohama/

Making hand puppets for early childhood development experiments

I designed and created dolls used in early childhood development research at a university.

I designed the puppet so that you can insert your hand from the back and have the puppet hold something in its hand.

2021
Gas-powered Warm Life Calendar 2022

I created a 3D illustration for the 2022 edition of the "Gas-Powered Warm Life Calendar" using wool felt.

"Cow Exhibition" Calendar Production

I participated in a group exhibition called "Cow Exhibition," which had "cows" as its theme.

Although this event was held online, we created a collaborative original calendar and "calf brooches" for sale.

Banana Dog Product Photography

"Banana Dog," a character created by Shohei Nishihara.

We photographed a felt doll, a three-dimensional representation of an illustration , alongside our new product, a handkerchief.

2020
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MyPrint "Year of the Ox" New Year's Cards

I created the New Year's card design for MyPrint, a service I provide every year. 2021 is the Year of the Ox!

These are Holstein and Jersey calves.

It's adorable how calves eagerly lick your hand when you hold it out.

Since my family ran a dairy farm, I have fond memories of being able to feed the calves milk, take them for walks, and generally take care of them.

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"HAPPY WOOL FELT ANIMALS" has been published in the United States.

My book "Smiling Animals Made of Wool Felt" (Magazine Land), originally published in 2014, was published in English in the United States in 2020 as "HAPPY WOOL FELT ANIMALS." The publisher was in New York, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was worried about what would happen, but I am grateful that it was published successfully.

The design is also very lovely! This issue's cover features a hedgehog. It reminds me of the time I took a photo of him with wild strawberry flowers.

I would be happy if many people picked it up .

C&T PUBLISHING

https://www.ctpub.com/

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Music for Elementary School Students 1: "Honey the Bee's Adventure" (3D Illustration)

I created the illustrations for "Honey the Bee's Adventure," part of the "Elementary School Music 1" series published by Kyoiku Geijutsu-sha.

This four-panel illustration tells the story of a bee's adventure, based on the well-known song "Bumblebee."

I'm so happy because working on textbooks is something I've always wanted to do.

The melodica, that brings back memories. I wonder how many years it's been since I last played one.

Elementary school students today learn the same instruments, don't they?

2016

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2015
Author of the book "Smiling Animals Made of Wool Felt"


In 2014, I published my first book on needle felting, "Smiling Animals Made of Needle Felting" (Magazine Land). It introduces various techniques, from how to make simple brooches to tips for creating beautiful pieces, and even animals with wire frames that allow their limbs to move.

Cover puppet design for Gakken Educational Publishing's "Montessori Parenting" series.


I created the dolls for the covers of three books in the "Montessori Parenting" series published by Gakken Educational Publishing.

Here are a chipmunk, a duck, and a polar bear family.

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MyPrint "Year of the Rat" New Year's Cards

I designed a photo for a New Year's card for the Year of the Rat. It features a cherry blossom branch and a family of mice.

The mouse is adorable with its dainty sitting posture and tiny hands. Its round eyes and whiskers are also cute.

2019
Production of the cover photo for the correspondence learning material Poppy "Oyadori"

I created the cover photo for "Oyadori," a supplement booklet for parents included with the learning material "Poppy."

These are six works from the October 2019 issue to the March 2020 issue.

This booklet is intended to help new first-graders prepare for school, so all the animal children are depicted wearing school backpacks.

They were diligently going to school with their backpacks on, or excited about their new lives.

I created a piece depicting baby animals and their parents watching over them.

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MyPrint "Year of the Boar" New Year's Card

I designed a photo for a New Year's card for the Year of the Boar. It features cherry blossoms and a family of wild boars.

Wild boar piglets are cute.

2018
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"Dairyman" Wool Felt Class Series 2018

My series in the dairy farming magazine "Dairyman" is now in its second year.

In the second year, I focused on introducing items that can be made and used, such as wool embroidery coasters and brooches.

It's also fun to try out the things you've created.

I was able to create many things during the two-year serialization. I particularly like the wool coasters.

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NHK E Tele's "Inai Inai Baa!" song "Minna de Go!"

The song "Let's all go!" from the TV show "Inai Inai Baa!"

The puppets that appear in the opening title sequence have also been featured in a song.

The chipmunk brothers set out on an adventure, meeting up with various friends along the way, and together they go!

What awaits us at the end of our adventure through the spring forest?

A winter version was also produced in 2019!

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MyPrint "Year of the Dog" New Year's Cards

I created a design for a New Year's card for the Year of the Dog. It features a smiling Shiba Inu against a backdrop of cherry blossoms. The Shiba Inu has a nice golden-brown color and looks delicious. I'd love to own one someday.

2017
Kitanippon Shimbun produces Hachibunbun TV commercial


We produced a commercial for the Kitanippon Shimbun newspaper. In spring, it features tulips, a specialty of Toyama; in summer and autumn, it's set inside a miniature house; and in winter, it's set in Gokayama, a village of traditional thatched-roof houses.

I made these bee family figures out of wool: the baby bee, the mother, and the father bee, all of whom love newspapers. The three of them are recommending a trial subscription to the newspaper!

To match the gentle world of felt, the bee's wings were also animated softly.

This is a stop-motion animation using wool felt.

Making a felted wool kit from Hamanaka


This is a design for a wool felt kit released by Hamanaka Co., Ltd. This time, it's a kitten and ball mascot made with "Aclaine," an acrylic material that resembles wool.

Instead of yarn, you make pom-poms using Acrylene and then combine them to create the design.

The instructions are also included in "Easy! Fluffy Pom-Pom Mascot 80," published by Shufunotomo Co., Ltd. This one comes with a calico kitten. The tiny kitten fits in the palm of your hand, and I think the fluffy texture of the pom-pom goes well with the kitten's fur.

Making hand puppets


I designed and created hand puppets used in experiments with young children.

This won't be released to the public, but I wanted to create a doll that children who interact with it would feel a connection to, so I paid close attention to using soft, pleasant-to-the-touch materials during its creation.

Creating human figures isn't something I do every day, so it was a fun job.

I'd like to make lots of stuffed animals and puppets in the future!

"Dairyman" series of wool felting classes


"Dairyman" is an information magazine for people involved in the dairy industry, published by Dairyman Co., Ltd. in Hokkaido.

Since 2017, I have been serializing my creations made with wool felt.

This magazine is overflowing with love for cows!

I also create and propose wool felt creations that I think would look lovely on a farm.

Yagoto Housing flyer image creation


I created images for a flyer announcing events and other activities at Yagoto Housing, a housing exhibition center in Nagoya that produced a TV commercial. The flyer depicts seasonal scenery and events using miniatures and seasonal flowers. The chipmunk family, who appeared in the commercial, are shown on a picnic and bug-catching trip.

Yagoto Housing Christmas Workshop


We held a Christmas wreath making workshop at the "Yagoto Housing" model home exhibition center.

We had the children decorate snowmen and wreaths with various beads, felt balls, pine cones, and other materials they liked. Making the bases for the snowmen and wreaths was challenging, but everyone created wonderful works! I was so happy.

It's also fun to display things you've made yourself at home.

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NHK E Tele "Inai Inai Baa!" 20th Anniversary Special: Puppet Production


NHK E Tele's "Inai Inai Baa!" celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016.

To commemorate the occasion, a special episode aired during the New Year's holiday featured a puppet show with all the girls from previous seasons.

I created five dolls of the girls from previous series using needle felting.

The people who operate the puppets and provide the voices are the same people who do it! It was a very cute puppet show.

Me-Tele "Yagoto Housing" Commercial Production


We produced a TV commercial for "Yagoto Housing," a housing exhibition center located in Nagoya.

I envisioned a large tree where families of various animals, such as chipmunks, rabbits, and frogs, gather, each with their own favorite home.

There are all kinds of homes and lifestyles: large families, newlyweds, single people, and more. It's fascinating to have a neighborhood where you can find homes that are just right for each individual's lifestyle.

If you look closely, you'll find Me-Tele's character, Wolfie, a wolf in sheep's clothing, hiding somewhere.

Hamanaka Wool Felt Kit Design


Hamanaka Co., Ltd. has released a new kit series called "Cute Animals" made with felted wool.

I designed four types: rabbit, sheep, elephant, and polar bear.

I focused on capturing the soft forms of animals while also trying to make them as easy to assemble as possible.

The eyes, mouth, and other facial features are all made using wool embroidery. It's fun to customize them to create your favorite expressions and faces!

Kodansha's first pop-up picture book, "Uutan's Egg, Egg"


This is a pop-up book where an egg cracks open and a cute baby pops out!

I made chicks, snakes, and turtles out of wool felt! I created baby creatures hatching from eggs.

This is a cute picture book that's small enough to take with you when you go out.

Kodansha's "Inai Inai Baa!" 2016 Calendar Supplement


The puppets from the opening of NHK E-TV's "Inai Inai Baa!" have been turned into a mini calendar!

Creating a "Banana Dog" doll and photographing the recipe.


"Banana Dog" is a dog whose body is made of bananas. Banana Smart and Banana Girl are his friends.

I took some photos to show how to make a banana dog, a hot dog with a banana inside.

The recipe is available on Cookpad!

https://cookpad.com/recipe/2563979

Creating three-dimensional versions of 2D characters using felt can be challenging, but it's also a fun process that involves thinking and experimenting to achieve the desired result.

The illustrations of the banana dog drawn by the original author, Shohei Nishihara, are also very cute.

Banana Dog HP

http://www.bananadog.jp/about/food

Puppet production for the opening of "Inai Inai Baa!"


I created the puppets that appear in the opening sequence of the NHK E-tele children's program "Inai Inai Baa!", which was revamped in April and is currently airing, using wool felt.

Wanwan, Uutan, Yuki-chan, and many other baby animals move around energetically in nature.

HONDA 2015 Calendar


I photographed clay figures in a natural setting.

We aimed to create a calendar that would make you want to go outside and play, no matter what season it is—spring, summer, autumn, or winter.

2014

Opening video and character design for Cable TV Toyama's "Hello Kids"


"Hello Kids" is a long-running and popular program in Toyama Prefecture that visits kindergartens throughout the prefecture and introduces the children. The opening sequence and design were revamped in 2014.

It's a short animation showing animal children scurrying around in a human kindergarten, eating snacks, drawing pictures, and even tripping during races.

2013

Production of original goods for Nasu Animal Kingdom


We produced original merchandise for Nasu Animal Kingdom, a zoo in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture.

We have calendars, postcards, clear files, and more.

Hamanaka Wool Felt Kit Design


I designed a wool felt kit sold by Hamanaka Co., Ltd.

These include brooches and Christmas mascots.

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