From Japan to Ukraine: One Woman’s Journey of Art and Survival
In war-torn Ukraine, a Japanese artist finds an unexpected home, crafting traditional dolls while navigating the complexities of identity, conflict, and connection with local communities.
Sumy, a city nestled in the northern reaches of Ukraine, has found itself at the epicentre of historical and contemporary tensions. A mere stone’s throw from the Russian border, it stands as a testament to the resilience of those who call it home. Among them is Sayaka, a soft-spoken Japanese artist who, despite the global turmoil swirling around her, has chosen to root herself firmly in this unlikely corner of Eastern Europe.
Sayaka’s journey to Ukraine is far from ordinary. Born in Chiba, Japan, she moved to the cold, remote region of Hokkaido at the age of eight, an experience that would later shape her fascination with lands far from home.
"I lived in Hokkaido for 10 years before I graduated high school," she recalls. "The location is very similar to Ukraine, and I think that's why I like this country so much."
Her interest in the post-Soviet world, however, began much earlier. Her father, a businessman in the 1970s, would return from his trips to the Soviet Union with an assortment of souvenirs, Matryoshka dolls and other curiosities from the enigmatic empire. Among these was a bear-shaped Misha, the mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The toys, stories, and Soviet memorabilia fascinated Sayaka and planted the seeds of curiosity for a country, or rather, a world that was distant, poor, and shrouded in mystery. "I've always been interested in Russia," she explains. "At first, I wanted to go to Russia, but I ended up in Ukraine, the neighbouring country."
