Quilting is not a particularly popular craft in Japan, although it is gradually becoming more well-known. There are several reasons for this: firstly, quilting is not a traditional Japanese craft; secondly, the materials and equipment required can be quite expensive; and thirdly, there is relatively little information or guidance available in Japanese on how to quilt. However, there are a few dedicated quilters in Japan who are passionate about the craft and are slowly helping to spread its popularity.
One of the main reasons why quilting has not been traditionally popular in Japan is because it simply isn't a part of Japanese culture. Quilting originated in Europe and was brought over to America by settlers - it's only in recent years that it has started to become more widespread globally. In contrast, traditional Japanese crafts such as kimono-making and calligraphy have been around for centuries, so they have much deeper roots in Japanese culture.
Another reason why quilting isn't very popular in Japan yet is because the materials and equipment required can be quite costly. A good quality sewing machine suitable for quilting can easily cost several thousand dollars, which puts it out of reach for many people here. Fabric can also be quite pricey - especially if you want imported fabrics from overseas.
Finally, another obstacle that quilters face in Japan is the lack of information and resources available in Japanese on how to do this craft. Although there are some excellent English-language books and websites on quilting, most of them aren't translated into Japanese (yet). This means thatJapanese quilters often have to rely on trial-and-error when learning new techniques, which can be frustrating.
Despite all these challenges, there are still a number of dedicatedquiltersin Japan who love this craft and are working hard to promote its popularity here. They often organise meetups and workshops to teach others about quilting,and some even sell their own handmade creations online or at markets. So althoughquiltingis still fairly nichein Japan right now, with a little bit of effort it could become much more mainstreamin the years to come!