SPOTLIGHT: Kimiko Side, local

Kimiko Side is open for business, selling her handcrafted Japanese cards

Article and Photos By Gil Asakawa

For anyone who loves Japanese crafts, Kimiko Side teaches monthly classes at the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple and has an annual presence at the Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival, and events at Simpson United Methodist Church like the annual Hina Matsuri, or Doll Festival - at least before COVID-19 struck.

Kimiko has been active in the area’s Japanese and Japanese American community organizations, from the Denver-Takayama Sister City Committee, which she chaired for over a decade, to the Mile High chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. She and her husband Gene also ran several locations of a Japanese gift shop.

Now, Kimiko, who is turning a spry 98-years-young, is taking that dedication online. She’s opened an online shop to share her crafts with people all over the U.S.

Kimiko’s Krafts currently features 26 card designs ranging from intricately folded butterflies to children or geisha in elaborate kimono, for $5 each.

For the shop’s launch, fill out a short survey by September 28. One winner will be chosen at random to receive five free cards. Plus, if the winner has purchased any number of cards before the contest ends, Kimiko will double the prize and send 10 cards for free. The survey for the drawing is at bit.ly/kimikoskontest.

Kimiko grew up immersed in Japanese culture. She was born in China before World War II and was taught the traditional arts as a child. She and her family moved to postwar Japan, which was devastated by the conflict, where she worked for a bank and met a GI named Gene Side who wooed and eventually married her. The couple chose to settle in Denver after Gene’s stint in the Occupation of Japan, and opened Madam Butterfly Gift Shop from their home on East Colfax to sell Japanese gifts and arts and crafts. They eventually had locations in Lakewood and Boulder.

For her decades-long dedication to building bridges of culture and personal relationships between Colorado and Japan, she was awarded the medal of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, from the Emperor of Japan. She’s also received many honors from Denver and Takayama over the years. She received the Asian American Hero of Colorado Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Now she’s embarking on a new venture in this time of pandemic, bringing her Japanese culture to people through Kimiko’s Krafts on Etsy.

Visit her shop at etsy.com/shop/kimikoskrafts

I have been exhibit” ing traditional Japanese doll making and washi paper crafts at Asian festivals in Denver, as well as promoting traditional Japanese art and crafts in local communities for many years. I have not only participated in events, but have also donated all of the proceeds from exhibitions as well as material costs to the event organizations.

I have also demonstrated Japanese crafts at local schools and colleges, museums, art museums, and the Denver Botanical Garden. I also teach Japanese craft classes every month at the Denver Buddhist Temple and Simpson Methodist Church.

- KIMIKO SIDE