PROFILE

Eriko Morita

Kyoto-based mizuhiki artist; Founder of Wakobo Hoyou (est. 2007).
Born in Tokyo and drawn to Japanese art and culture from an early age, Morita eventually encountered mizuhiki—a traditional Japanese art of sculpting paper cords through line and knot. After founding Wakobo Hoyou in 2007, she relocated to Kyoto, where the city’s seasonal rituals, landscapes, and cultural heritage continue to shape her artistic practice. Her work spans contemporary creation, research into historical origata, and the transmission of traditional mizuhiki knowledge to the next generation.

Education & Training

Joshibi University of Art and Design Junior College (Fashion Design)
Japan Calligraphy School (Calligraphy)
Apprenticeship in mizuhiki orikata under Naoko Hirasawa (Tokyo)
Misho ryu Ikebana master

Exhibitions & Projects

Solo Exhibitions
Celebrating, Adorning, and Wearing Mizuhiki, bar mousse (Kyoto), 2025
Wish-fulfilling Mizuhiki, Sosoraso (Osaka), 2024
Mizuhiki for Contemporary Living, Takashimaya Kyoto (Kyoto), 2024
Gion Festival Yamaboko Miniatures, Chiso Main Store (Kyoto), 2023
10th Anniversary Exhibition of Wakobo Hoyou, multi-venue (Kyoto), 2017

Group Exhibitions
Decorations for the Wall, Torii Co. (Kyoto), 2025
Mizuhiki Fair & Workshops, Hankyu Umeda Main Store (Osaka), 2024
Apo-Kū Vonhimikost, Kyoto Museum of Photography (Kyoto), 2023
The World You Want to Share: Mizuhiki, Hankyu Umeda (Osaka), 2022
Tama-no-O (Jewels of Strings) — traveling presentations (Nagano / Kyoto / Tokyo), 2021

Commissions / Public Art
KITTE Osaka Grand Opening Monument — mizuhiki consulting and community workshop facilitation, JP Tower Osaka (Osaka), 2024

Press & Media

Selected highlights
Nippon.com (feature & interview, 2024)
Kateigaho (2024), Fujin Gaho, T JAPAN, Casa BRUTUS, WARAKU
NHK (Kyoto News 630 / Good Morning Kansai, 2019)
TOKYO FM (The Lifestyle Museum; Dareka ni Hanashitakatta Koto, 2024)
J-WAVE (UR LIFESTYLE COLLEGE, 2023)
ABC TV (News Okaeri, 2023), Kansai TV (Yoi Don!, 2023), KBS Kyoto (Taniguchi RyuRyu, 2022)
Tokyo Headline / Yahoo! News Japan (feature, 2023)

Books

Cute Seasonal Mizuhiki (Boutique-sha)
Mizuhiki au fil des saisons (DE SAXE, French edition)
Mizuhiki for Celebrations (Boutique-sha)
Charming Floral Mizuhiki (Boutique-sha)
Mizuhiki Rope Knots: Delicate Floral Designs (Maple Publishing House, Chinese edition)