From Wabi-sabi to Japandi
Japan’s global appeal is booming. In 2025, the country welcomed over 22 million international visitors in just the first half of the year. But it is not only travel that is drawing attention. Around the world, Japanese aesthetics are shaping interiors and lifestyles. The philosophy of Wabi-sabi, with its quiet beauty in imperfection, and the calm balance of Zen have become guiding principles for modern homes. Japandi, Nordic minimalism with a Japanese touch, has grown into a global trend, and Cottagecore interiors often borrow from Japanese craftsmanship, with kokeshi dolls being a charming example.
The Spirit of Japanese Craft Today
Today’s Japanese artists are creating works that are both unique and full of character. Whether ceramics, fabrics, or sculptural ornaments, their creations share the same qualities that make antiques so loved: individuality, craftsmanship, and timeless charm. In interiors influenced by Wabi-sabi or Japandi, these artist-made pieces blend effortlessly with vintage and antique items, creating a harmony that feels modern yet rooted in tradition.
Introducing Japanese Craft and Design
I will gradually begin introducing the creations of Japanese artists alongside my collection of antiques and vintage finds. These works share the same spirit as antiques: individual, timeless, and designed to bring warmth and character into the home. For me, this feels like a natural extension, adding a new layer to the London-based collection, from a city celebrated for its diversity and global outlook, while staying true to the values that have always defined it.
Meeting the Artists
IRIE – From Fukuoka to Paris
I first came across Irie’s ceramics through her Instagram posts, and when I learned she was holding an exhibition in Paris, I knew I wanted to see her work in person. So I went to Paris to visit her exhibition, where I could finally experience her ceramics directly.
Her creations, from playful cat-shaped plates to everyday tableware, struck me with their warmth and individuality. With their natural, earthy tones and tactile surfaces, her ceramics feel almost alive, as if shaped not only by hand but also by nature itself.
In Fukuoka, she refurbished an old house and transformed it into a café that also serves as a space to showcase and sell her ceramics. It reminded me of my own 121-year-old London home. When you live in an old building, you naturally get used to shaping it into a style that reflects you. IRIE’s ceramics feel like an extension of that same philosophy: respecting history while making it part of modern daily life.
Instagram @irie_plus
sobakasu-kids. – Kyoto Creativity Across Fabric and Illustration
sobakasu-kids. began as a textile designer but her creativity has since expanded into many directions, from illustrating book covers to collaborations with Michel.
Her use of colour is cheerful, and each animal character she creates has a stylish personality that makes up the unique world of sobakasu-kids..
Her recent collaboration with Michel, a company that transforms illustrations into fabric artworks and panels, shows how her designs move seamlessly from paper to textile to interior space.
(For My Happy London Home, her creations echo the same animal charm that makes Staffordshire Dogs and Cats so beloved, while adding a fresh, contemporary layer.
Website: sobakasu-kids.
Instagram @sobakasu_kids @sobakasu.kids_illustration
Semimal – Kamakura Cats with a Timeless Spirit
Cats have long held a special place in Japanese culture, from the famous Manekineko (Beckoning Cat) to feline motifs in art and folklore.
. 
Semimal’s work continues this tradition in her own distinctive way. Every ceramic ornament she creates is cat-themed, each one full of expression and individuality.
Alongside ceramics, she also creates cat drawings on wooden boards, where the natural texture of the wood adds to their charm and individuality.
Visiting her gallery in Kamakura showed me how her creations feel both rooted in tradition and wonderfully personal. For My Happy London Home, her pieces form a natural bridge between the Staffordshire cats of Victorian England and today’s Japanese artistry.
Webiste: Semimal.com
Instagram @semimalc
Looking Ahead
These artist creations will begin appearing gradually in My Happy London Home. Just like antiques and vintage pieces, each one will be unique and available only once. I am looking forward to sharing them with you in the coming months, and I hope they inspire you to see how antiques and modern craft can live together in today’s interiors.