Women adorned in vibrant, delicate kimono patterns—Miki Katoh continues to paint works inspired by antique kimono, particularly those from the Taisho and early Showa periods, celebrated for their modern and unconventional designs. Her art interweaves traditional Japanese culture with animistic philosophy, creating a unique visual language. Also active as an illustrator and kimono designer, Katoh shares the roots of her creative vision with us.

Revealing Culture and Life Through the Female Form

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

-  Why do you choose to focus on women in your work?

Katoh: I seek to express the evolving nature of Japanese culture, the ways people live, and the beauty and strength found within them—all in various forms. Because I myself am a woman, placing women at the center of my work allows me to more easily immerse myself in the world I’m creating and to connect emotionally with it. It also gives me a direct channel to express what I feel and what I wish to say in my daily life. At times, I depict divine beasts, animals, or plants in the form of women for the very same reason.

Another significant reason I focus on female figures is my desire to portray kimono—one of Japan’s most beautiful cultural traditions—in my work. By experimenting with patterns, colors, and how the garments are worn, I can bring richness and vibrancy to the composition while also highlighting the unique individuality and charm of each woman I depict.

-  Where do you find inspiration?

Katoh: Ideas often come to me unexpectedly. Sometimes they appear as a composition or a certain mood of colors. Other times, they're sparked by a person or place I feel compelled to depict. I also draw inspiration from unraveling old tales and legends, contemplating how I might reinterpret them in my own way.

Flashes of insight arrive constantly — thoughts and emotions stirred by everyday moments, fleeting and formless, flowing through me as vivid imagery. As I imagine how to give shape to these intangibles, they cascade into endless streams of visual impressions. Amid these overflowing raw fragments, it becomes essential to carefully consider what to select, and how to refine and elevate each into a finished work.

A Brush That Blends the Boundaries

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

-  What elements or approaches do you emphasize in your creative process?

Katoh: In my work, which centers on the exploration of nature and the cycles of life, I strive to create a world where various “boundaries” are subtly interwoven. These include not only the boundary between time and timelessness, or the coexistence of the old and the new, but also the line between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the real and the otherworldly.

Visually, I am deeply drawn to the beauty and intrigue that emerge from combining colors in unexpected ways. This is especially evident in the intricate kimono patterns worn by the women in my paintings.

At the foundation of all my work lies a sincere wish for peace, compassion, and reflection — an enduring hope for the happiness of all people.

 -  Are there any materials or techniques you are particularly particular about?

Katoh: Many of my works are created using gouache on Watson paper. Gouache is a medium where the strength of the pigment comes directly to the surface of the image, and its beautifully matte finish is one of its defining qualities. It's also a material I've used for many years, so I'm able to paint exactly the way I envision, thanks to my technical familiarity with it.

In some pieces, I’ve been exploring techniques that combine gouache with traditional Japanese painting materials, such as iwa-enogu (mineral pigments) alongside gouache, to add a unique shimmer and texture. Gouache is water-soluble, which can make it tricky to handle at times. So for larger-scale works, I often use acrylic gouache on canvas, as it’s fast-drying, water-resistant, highly pigmented, and still offers that matte finish I prefer.

Entrusting a Prayer to the Soaring Kirin

Miki Katoh “TENSHO” 2025, 112.0x145.5cm, Acrylic gouache on canvas

- What inspired your key visual “Tensho”? What meaning did you hope to convey?

Katoh: The key visual was inspired by the mythological kirin that stands on Nihonbashi Bridge. At the center of the bridge’s railing, a pair of kirin statues are positioned in the traditional “A-un” stance—a symbolic formation in which one figure opens its mouth ("A") and the other closes it ("Un"), representing the beginning and end of all things, as well as the harmony of opposites.

These kirin feature wings on their backs, designed as a symbol of hope. Where one might soar from Nihonbashi—the starting point of all major roads in Japan—to wherever their path may lead.

One of my ongoing lifework projects is the “100 Views of Tokyo” series, in which I depict Tokyo’s landscapes and landmarks in a fable-like manner to weave stories that connect past and future.

The current Nihonbashi Bridge was completed in 1911 and has since withstood major earthquakes and world wars. Now recognized as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, it remains a beautiful and historically rich structure.
However, during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth, an elevated expressway was built above the bridge, cutting off its view of the sky. Today, a large-scale redevelopment project is underway in the area, and the removal of the expressway overpass has begun. Nihonbashi is expected to soon regain its open sky.

With this in mind, I painted “Tensho” as one of the newest works in my 100 Views of Tokyo series which sends a prayer to build a brighter future, and a wish to soar freely into the vast sky, embracing the flow of time from past to present to future.

Close up of “TENSHO”

Beauty Is Yours to Define

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

- What inspired your journey as an artist?

Katoh: My father is a sculptor, and his studio was filled to the brim with his works. The walls were lined with paintings by his artist friends, and from a very young age, I was surrounded by art. I would lose myself in those worlds, setting off on imaginary adventures to unravel the mysteries hidden within each piece. So, deciding to become an artist myself felt like the most natural path. After graduating from art school, I began my career as an illustrator. Today, I work as a painter, creating new realms of adventure in my own studio.

 - What led you to focus on kimono in your work? What do you find most captivating about them?

Katoh: There was a moment when I realized that, despite being born and raised in Japan, I knew very little about my own history and culture. This realization led me to explore Japanese art and traditions, eventually sparking a deep interest in kimono.

I became truly devoted to kimono about twenty years ago, when I first encountered antique pieces from the Taisho and early Showa periods. Their modern, unconventional patterns which blend Western and Japanese styles with romantic, delicate designs still astonishes me with their beauty.

I was instantly captivated. These kimonos emerged during a time when more women began to pursue education, work, and independence, resisting the limits of a patriarchal society. Their designs reflected women’s own needs and desires for the pursuit of freedom.

By incorporating these patterns into my work, I aim to portray the spirit of independent women, which I feel is a defining feature of my art.

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

- Through your work, what kinds of values or perspectives on women and beauty in contemporary society do you hope to convey?

Katoh: I’ve always hoped for a society where no one has to conform to someone else’s idea of beauty. I want each person to define it for themselves, and to feel pride and confidence in their own sense of what is beautiful. 

When people compare others just to put them down, or speak carelessly and judge without thought, it wears away at the heart. I believe beauty can be expressed in many different ways. It should be something free and without limits. I know many people still feel the silent pressure to conform. Some are deeply affected by the hurtful words of others. I’m no exception. But, I can’t change what I find beautiful. It’s something I carry quietly within me.

Through my work, I hope to connect with the viewer’s own sense of beauty. If my art can help create a world where differences are accepted, talked about, and celebrated — where everyone feels free to hold their own values and that would mean everything to me as an artist.

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

Miki Katoh’s work is deeply rooted in the beauty of Japanese culture—its reverence for nature, its shifting eras—while at the same time embodying the spirit of free, independent, and strikingly beautiful women.

Currently on view at Whitestone Gallery Ginza is “Real Woman – Through the Passage of Time”, a duo exhibition featuring works by Miki Katoh and itabamoe.　Though both artists explore the theme of womanhood, their contrasting perspectives and distinct approaches invite viewers to reflect on the passage of time and the diversity of feminine expression.

Real Women - Through the Passage of Time