The Story of MyUM THE VEGGY TOYS... Japan, a source of inspiration.
PATRICE DURAND
🌏 Japan, a global fascination
With nearly 40 million tourists, Japan attracts crowds! The enthusiasm has not waned, even with the World Expo. This country continues to inspire with its unique balance between ancient traditions and futuristic modernity.
✈️ An immersion in Tokyo
I discovered Tokyo in 2010, during my studies at Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts). I was supposed to stay three months… I ended up staying two years. This experience profoundly transformed my worldview and nurtured my creativity.
🎨 A passion nurtured by Japanese culture
At the time, I was already very attracted to Japanese culture:
- The prints of Katsushika Hokusai
- The introspective novels of Haruki Murakami
- The colorful and endearing world of Sanrio characters
All of this was bathed in a gentle aesthetic, marked by the famous kawaii spirit ✨
🧶 The birth of amigurumis
Inspired by this universe, I spontaneously started crocheting amigurumis.
Very quickly, I chose to create fruits and vegetables… to which I added faces 😊
Why?
- To give them life
- Under the influence of kawaii (everything is cute)
- And the Shinto tradition, where every object can be inhabited by a soul
🍎 A different perspective on plants
Coming from France, and from a family of farmers on my paternal side, I experienced a real cultural shock.
In Japan:
- Plants are valued as much as animals, if not more
- Farmers cultivate with respect and passion 🌱
- Fruits and vegetables are presented like jewels 💎
🍅 In restaurants, a simple raw tomato can be savored like a refined dish.
🌿 Between modernity and nature
Japan is a futuristic country, but this modernity remains primarily urban.
In parallel:
- Respect for nature is part of daily life
- Landscapes are preserved and respected
- Culture celebrates life in all its simplicity
🏔️ An ever-living inspiration
The fascination with Mount Fuji 🗻 and the films of Hayao Miyazaki perfectly illustrate this relationship between humans and nature.
This vision continues to fuel my imagination and my work today ✨
