Rie Yoshida | MaseruBear
里江 吉田

Rie Yoshida comes from a small town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and creates unique teddy bears by hand from fine Japanese brocade (Kinran). Her passion for this intricately woven traditional fabric, threaded with gold, inspired her to create an object that embodies beauty, warmth, and comfort: the MaseruBear.

Whenever Yoshida-san holds a new piece of Kinran, time seems to stand still — the shimmering fabric, the delicate patterns, and the story woven into every thread captivate her anew each time. Her bears are crafted with great care and the desire to make this beauty tangible and alive.

"Ever since I was a child, I have loved handicrafts, and it was my grandmother who taught me how to sew and shared with me the joy and warmth of making things by hand. She also introduced me to the beauty of Japanese traditions like kimono culture, which has deeply influenced my creations. After working for many years at a local handicraft shop, where I was constantly inspired by creativity, I became passionate about starting my own teddy bear brand. I'm now dedicated to bringing my passion beyond Japan to people around the world."

The name of her project — Maseru — comes from the local dialect and means something like "I give you something — please accept it." This spirit of giving and sharing is at the heart of her work. Each bear is a small work of art made from high-quality, Japanese-made fabric, designed to bring a smile to people around the world.

For Punkeshi, Yoshida-san has created a strictly limited special edition: an exclusive series of bears made with Kinran fabrics in carefully chosen colours — elegant, rare, and available only in small quantities.