Collaboration Projects

Special licensed collaboration project with sixteen different artists is now available for PRE-ORDER! Clear acrylic stand is printed with artwork by each artist. Each stand has between 4 and 9 pieces (including the base). 
Acrylic stands are expected to arrive January 10 +/-. Exact arrival dates will be added here!

** FACTORY UPDATES **
January 3 - printing is completed. 
January 9 - cutting is completed.
January 13 - packaging and preparing of parcels is completed.
January 17 - arrived and in stock!!
All pre-orders planned to ship by Monday 20 Jan!

Akiko Ijichi Acrylic Art Stand .	Chika Tanikawa Acrylic Art Stand .	Chika Yamada Acrylic Art Stand .	Daisuke Ichiba Acrylic Art Stand .
Eimi Suzuki Acrylic Art Stand .	Em Nishizuka Acrylic Art Stand .	Kana Miyamoto Acrylic Art Stand .	Kenichi Koyama Acrylic Art Stand .
Kozue Kuroki Acrylic Art Stand .	Makiko Sugawa Acrylic Art Stand .	Mari Shimizu Acrylic Art Stand .	Mika Nitta Acrylic Art Stand .
Shintaro Kago Acrylic Art Stand	Suehiro Maruo Acrylic Art Stand	Tama Acrylic Art Stand	Tokyo Jesus Acrylic Art Stand

Please click the images or titles above for more information.

Special licensed collaboration project with fourteen different artists is now available for PRE-ORDER! Solid spruce ema is printed with artwork by each artist - two artworks for each artist = 28 different ema to choose from! Expected to arrive mid to late November. Full details at each item's description.
** IN STOCK at both USA & EU locations. All pre-orders have shipped!!

Ema wooden plaque is traditionally used to write a wish or prayer (on the reverse) and tied at a Shinto shrine in the hopes that the local gods will see your request. Also used as a souvenir to hang on your wall as a mini artwork, a Christmas ornament, Christmas stocking replacement, front door decoration, etc.

Akiko Ijichi ema:	Chika Tanikawa ema:	Chika Yamada ema:	Daisuke Ichiba ema:
Eimi Suzuki ema:	Em Nishizuka ema:	Kana Miyamoto ema:	Kozue Kuroki ema:
Makiko Sugawa ema:	Mika Nitta ema:	Suehiro Maruo ema:	Takato Yamamoto ema:
Tama ema:	Yuka Sakuma ema:

Very pleased to offer for PRE-ORDER eleven different official, licensed artist collaboration scarves! 100% silk 14mm twill, dry clean only, with a hand-rolled hem. They measure about 34.25" x 34.25" (87x87cm) - this may vary a little due to the hand finishing.

[NOW IN STOCK!!] The PRE-ORDER period closed on May 22 and manufacturing has begun. Orders are expected to begin shipping around JUNE 16. I will post regular updates at the bottom of this page!

Chika Yamada licensed silk scarf	Daisuke Ichiba licensed silk scarf	Em Nishizuka licensed silk scarf	Kana Miyamoto licensed silk scarf
Makiko Sugawa licensed silk scarf	Mika Nitta licensed silk scarf	Shintaro Kago licensed silk scarf	Suehiro Maruo licensed silk scarf
Takato Yamamoto licensed silk scarf	Tama licensed silk scarf	Yuka Sakuma licensed silk scarf

Please click the images or titles above to see more photos and to purchase.

UPDATES:
May 22 - pre-order period has closed and the final quantity of each scarf has been determined. Order was placed with the manufacturer.
June 12 - Shintaro Kago, Takato Yamamoto, Suehiro Maruo scarves are completed and will ship to AkaTako in 1-2 days.
June 14 - First box (Kago, Yamamoto, Maruo) has shipped to AkaTako USA.
June 16 - Second box (everyone else!) has shipped to AkaTako USA.
June 20 - Second box (all except Kago, Yamamoto, Maruo) has arrived to AkaTako USA.
June 21 - First box (Kago, Yamamoto, Maruo) SCHEDULED to arrive to AkaTako USA.
June 22 - USA has shipped a bunch of the pre-orders, all orders should be done by end of this week!
June 29 - Scarves arrived to EU and all pre-orders are shipped!

[STEP BY STEP UPDATES ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.]
[SCARVES ARE NOW IN STOCK at USA & EU locations.]
Very pleased to offer for PRE-ORDER six different official, licensed artist collaboration scarves! Each one is double sided with different art on each side!! 100% cotton OEKO-TEX®, machine wash and dry, about 7.88" x 67" (20 x 170cm). ARRIVAL is expected at end of December - these will NOT arrive in time for Christmas.

CHIKA YAMADA cotton scarf (side 1)	CHIKA YAMADA cotton scarf (side 2)	EM NISHIZUKA cotton scarf (side 1)	EM NISHIZUKA cotton scarf (side 2)
MAKIKO SUGAWA cotton scarf (side 1)	MAKIKO SUGAWA cotton scarf (side 2)	SHINTARO KAGO cotton scarf (side 1)	SHINTARO KAGO cotton scarf (side 2)
SUEHIRO MARUO cotton scarf (side 1)	SUEHIRO MARUO cotton scarf (side 2)	TAMA cotton scarf (side 1)	TAMA cotton scarf (side 2)

Click the images or titles above for more photos and details.

STEP BY STEP UPDATES
[DONE] Nov 25 2022 All six scarves have been ordered for production.
[DONE] Dec 23 2022 Suehiro Maruo knit fabric shipped to AkaTako EU location.
[DONE] Dec 27 2022 AkaTako EU is cutting and sewing Suehiro Maruo fabric into final scarves. 
[DONE] Dec 29 2022 Suehiro Maruo scarves are on the way to AkaTako USA location.
[DONE] Jan 02 2023 100% of EU pre-orders for Suehiro Maruo scarves have been shipped!
[DONE] Jan 02 2023 Shintaro Kago & Em Nishizuka knit fabric shipped to AkaTako EU location.
[DONE] Jan 05 2023 Last three scarves knit fabric shipped to EU location.
[DONE] Jan 05 2023 AkaTako EU is cutting and sewing Shintaro Kago & Em Nishizuka fabric into final scarves.
[DONE] Jan 07 2023 AkaTako EU is cutting and sewing last three scarves' fabric into final scarves.
[DONE] Jan 09 2023 AkaTako USA received Suehiro Maruo scarves! Pre-orders are being shipped now.
[DONE] Jan 10 2023 All 5 remaining scarves are on the way to AkaTako USA location.
[DONE] Jan 12 2023 EU has shipped 38% of remaining pre-orders - 95% will be shipped tomorrow.
[DONE] Jan 13 2023 USA has shipped ALL Suehiro Maruo pre-orders.
[DONE] Jan 16 2023 EU has shipped ALL pre-orders and all scarves are now in stock.
[DONE] Jan 20 2023 all remaning scarves arrived to USA and 30% of pre-orders have shipped.
[DONE] Jan 21 2023 100% of USA orders (and EU orders) have shiped!! Scarves now in stock. :)

QUESTIONS?
- Why are they arriving later than expected?
The knit fabric manufacturer originally said before Christmas. I added some time for the sewing and estimated end of December. Unfortunately the manufacturer has been very busy and so the arrival was delayed.

- Why does it take so long for AkaTako to sew them?
It is a ten step process. Each scarf takes me about one hour to sew.

- What are the ten steps?
Cut the knit fabric in half, cut the leftover threads off, pin the fabric folded in half, sew the fabric into a tube, turn the tube right side out, pin the tube flat and in the correct shape, top stitch all the way around, steam the scarf very thoroughly to achieve rectangular shape, dry overnight, package into plastic sleeve with care instructions.

- Are you going to make this type of scarf again?
No. No way. I love these scarves and I am very happy with them but the amount of time required to finish them is not remotely cost effective. Please enjoy them while they are available. :)