A Japanese artist who embraced Islam has found a new artistic path in Istanbul, where faith and tradition now shape her work. ŞuleShinku Shirakawa moved from Tokyo to Türkiye after converting to Islam and enrolled at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University to study Traditional Turkish Arts. She now creates detailed micro art pieces that unite Japanese design with Seljuk geometric patterns, reports Daily Sabah.
Shirakawa works with Murat Uçar, a lecturer at the university. Together they apply Seljuk geometry and Japanese motifs to everyday objects, including fountain pens. Her work reflects clean Japanese lines alongside the Islamic tradition of infinite order and balance.
At 27, Shirakawa describes her education in Türkiye as a turning point. She says traditional Turkish arts demand patience, discipline, and care, values she strives to reflect in her craft. She also shared her journey to Islam, saying a personal search for belonging led her to explore many religions during travels in India. Islam felt closest to her, and her family respected her decision. After conversion, she adopted the name Şule.
Visits to the Tokyo Mosque and Turkish Culture Centre deepened her interest in Turkish Islamic art and inspired her move to Türkiye. She first arrived as an Erasmus student from Tokyo University and later committed fully to studying Turkish and Islamic artistic traditions. She is also learning the Turkish language.