Aiko Koike

Questionnaire: Aiko Koike

Describe yourself in a single sentence?
– Aquarius and self-destructive.

What is the first thing you usually think about when you wake up?
– My son’s breakfast.

What was your last thought before falling asleep last night?
– Yokai and sumo wrestling — I fell asleep reading picture books.

What would you never do in bed?
– Work.

What are you working on right now?
– Art direction for the international performing arts festival in October, a book for an artist friend, graphic design for a fashion brand, and visuals for a bookstore event.

Describe your bedroom. What objects do you surround yourself with?
– A stuffed shark, a stuffed crocodile, and my son’s beloved fluffy blankets.

What do you do when nobody looks?
– I imagine terrible things I could never tell anyone about.

What’s your favourite dessert?
– Popcorn.

What do you dream about?
– An earthquake hits, followed by a tsunami, and I run away with a sumo wrestler. For some reason, there are ticket gates in the ocean.

Who do you look up to?
– Princess Aiko.

To what extent do you trust people?
– I trust animals and small children.

What is your favourite book and why?
– The Dolphin and the Mermaid by Ruth Carroll.

What do you think about sports?
– I love swimming.

Name your favourite restaurant?
– Soba Kosuge, Meguro.

What is your most twisted fantasy?
– The world doesn’t exist while my eyes are closed. Another world does.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
– Your sheets, duvet covers, pajamas, and shiny pillowcases are all so comfy. I slept very, very well.

Photography by Aiko Koike, Tokyo, Japan, August 2026.