ABOVE: YUKI MIZUKI IN HER KYOTO STUDIO
By Patricia Belyea
DARUMA DAYS
In 2018, the Mima family of Tokyo gave me a handmade Daruma doll from Blue & White. It was the first night of a two-week journey around Japan. Daruma joined me on the trip, and I photographed him at every sight and site.
When Okan Arts led its first textile tour in 2020, Daruma became our tour mascot. Once again, he popped up in photos everywhere.
Over time, Daruma appeared on stickers, buttons, and printed materials. He essentially became the face of Okan Arts Tours.
Daruma—the 5th-century founder of Zen Buddhism—holds a revered place in Japanese culture. Still, the legendary monk’s determined expression can read as a scowl. To those unfamiliar with Daruma, he can feel a bit off‑putting.
A SLIGHT SHIFT
Okan Arts is expanding its horizons. This year, I’m spending a month in the UK — visiting people and places — as research for future textile tours there.
Our plan is to lead quilt and textile tours in Summer 2027 to:
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Southern UK London, Wales, and Birmingham’s Festival of Quilts
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Northern UK Birmingham’s Festival of Quilts, York, Glasgow, and Edinburgh
(Booking for these tours will open in late August or early September 2026, once we’ve sorted out the activities, itinerary, and pricing. To be on the Interested List, email Victoria +here)
A NEW IDENTITY
Working with our friend and graphic designer, Yuki Mizuki of Kyoto, Okan Arts now has a new logo and a refreshed visual identity.
We adopted a butterfly as our motif—and it fits us perfectly. Butterflies symbolize transformation, a hallmark of our tours. They bring delight. They’re colorful. They feel joyful and free.
BUTTERFLY FLURRY
After refining our Global Butterfly logo, we asked Yuki to create a all-over butterfly illustration.
To get Yuki started, I sent her a photo of an inked drawing by Andy Warhol titled Happy Butterfly Day from my art collection.
Inspired by this, Yuki created a flurry of lively butterflies, many featuring iconic Japanese patterns within their wings.
MOVING FORWARD
It feels wonderful to step into a refreshed look that:
-is memorable
-evokes a creative, easygoing spirit
-appeals to design‑savvy travelers
BEHIND THE SCENES
At Okan Arts Tours, we’re also strengthening our organization and systems. Victoria is on a pathway to becoming our Tour Director, and I’m looking forward to spending far less time on administrative details. Yeah!
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far — 12 exceptional textile tours to Japan. And we’re committed to remaining a thoughtful tour company that delivers small-group travel experiences rich in creativity, culture, and connection.
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria import vintage Japanese textiles, host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
