By AYAKO FUJITA/ Staff Writer
September 14, 2024 at 07:00 JST
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan—Despite being forcibly repatriated from this central Asian nation, Kyushu native Misuzu Ogata returned to her “second home” here to promote the country’s culture to Japanese people.
Ogata, 28, said she is enchanted by Kyrgyz ornamental patterns handed down since ancient times, including sheep horns embodying wishes for wealth and images of the moon representing desires for a peaceful night.
She has signed agreements with five traditional craftspeople in Kyrgyzstan for planning and marketing their products. She once took a seven-hour bus ride to hold direct talks with one of her partners.
Ogata set up “Oimo,” an online retailing website for Japanese customers, in 2021. Oimo refers to traditional ornamental patterns in the Kyrgyz language.
“Many in Japan don’t even know where Kyrgyzstan is,” Ogata said. “I hope what I am doing will inspire them to take an interest in the country and visit it.”
Kyrgyz people are said to resemble Japanese in their features and builds.
Ogata, who hailed from Kumamoto, was encouraged by her grandparents to become a public servant.
She obtained a teacher’s license at Kyushu Kyoritsu University and left for Kyrgyzstan in 2019 as a physical education volunteer of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Ogata said she was charmed by the mindset of the Kyrgyz, who “don’t brood too deeply because they believe that things will be better tomorrow.”
She also felt comfortable amid the kindness of the local people.
However, Ogata was forced to return to Japan after only nine months because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
She was reassigned to the country in 2021. Upon finishing her term, she bought woolen sundry goods and other products as she returned to Japan.
Ogata opened a shop in Japan for the items. After the business flourished, she decided to start Oimo.
Customer favorites include cushions embroidered with traditional patterns and fashion accessories made of animal bones.
“There are fewer embroiderers and silversmiths (in Kyrgyzstan),” Ogata said. “I hope to allow them to earn a living so people of the next generation will not turn away from handicraft.”
She said she believes that doing so will also help preserve Kyrgyzstan’s traditional culture.
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Misuzu Ogata poses with cushions embroidered with traditional Kyrgyz patterns in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 16. (Ayako Fujita)
