"Laughter & Healing at the End of the Yarn"—Aipa Takizawa on the Charm of Knitting

On stage, comedian Aipa Takizawa captivates audiences with his unique yakuza-inspired character and quick-witted performances. Off stage, however, he spends his "healing time" quietly immersed in the soothing world of knitting. With yarn and needles in hand, his focused, stitch-by-stitch approach reveals a whole different side from his usual comedic persona.

So, what drew Aipa Takizawa to the seemingly plain hobby of knitting? Behind it all, he found moments of peace away from the hustle and bustle, the joy of creating something for others, and the unexpected laughter and comfort that this craft brings.

This time, we sat down with Aipa Takizawa for an in-depth conversation about the unique world that opens up at the end of a ball of yarn.

Was the Trigger Prison Labor!?—Diving Headfirst into the World of Knitting

The hobby of "knitting" doesn’t quite fit his tough yakuza character, and his exciting array of works on YouTube and social media makes this contrast even more striking. But the way Aipa Takizawa actually encountered knitting is truly unexpected.

"It all started when I did knitting as part of prison labor a long time ago. ...Well, half of that story is part of my yakuza-comedian character [laughs], but it’s true I first tried knitting in prison. Still, I only really became obsessed with it after getting out."

True to his words, the first place he went was a 100-yen shop.

"I just made up my mind to actually finish something. I bought yarn, knitting needles, and a pattern book—all from the 100-yen shop—and dove into my very first project. That experience of sticking it out and finishing, no matter what, gave me huge confidence. Like, ‘I can actually do this!’ And from there, I was hooked. It’s already been over 10 years since I started knitting."

He transformed a chance discovery in an unlikely place into a lifelong passion through his own efforts.

Even more surprising, the first thing he tried was "knitting with two needles," which is known to be a real challenge for beginners.

"The first thing I tried to make was a scarf. When you think of knitting, you picture using two needles, right? So right from the start, I just grabbed the knitting needles [laughs]. I followed a pattern from the 100-yen shop exactly, but it didn’t go well at all. No matter how many hours I spent, I only got a tiny bit done. Honestly, it was really tough. In the end, I gave up before I finished [laughs]."

After all his struggles, the sense of accomplishment he got was immense. From there, he ventured into the world of "crochet" as well.

"After some research, I learned you only need one hook for crochet. That makes it easy to get started, and you can create so many small items, so I decided to start with a coaster.

"Of course, I create bigger projects too, but making small items gives you a quick win, boosts your confidence, and above all—it's just fun to make them!"

At the Heart of His Motivation: "Laughter" & "Perseverance"

Anyone can start something—the real challenge is sticking with it. Knitting is no exception. So what’s more important than skill? For Aipa Takizawa, the answer is clear—it's all about "perseverance."

"It’s not about being skilled, what really matters is perseverance—just having patience. Sure, it’s nice to be good at it, but it doesn’t matter if your first try is sloppy or weird-looking. The most important thing is to actually finish making something. That’s what counts the most. A lot of people try to follow the textbook exactly and then get frustrated or bored, but you don’t have to worry about that at all!"

At the root of his motivation, though, lies "laughter."

"Since my character is totally yakuza, I feel like the more I do something that’s the polar opposite—like knitting—the funnier it is, and everyone finds it entertaining. That feeling makes me want to do more. It’s become a huge motivation to keep going. My comedian friends and the audience laugh, and there’s nothing better than that."

The striking contrast between "Aipa Takizawa and knitting" creates a fascinating chemical reaction. People around him have even begun offering ideas, saying, "Why don't you try making something like this?"

Another appeal, he says, is that "you can really immerse yourself in it."

"I feel like I can focus and become 'empty.' It keeps me from overthinking, and since it's a repetitive action, it can get a bit trance-like. That helps me relieve stress, too."

A Deep Dive into Aipa Takizawa’s Knitting World

Aipa Takizawa’s “knitting world” keeps expanding even deeper. You’ll find creations with a yakuza character twist, such as a donut-shaped pochette, short sword cases, cha-covers (wordplay which means "handgun covers"), and heated tobacco cases.

"I mass-produced the heated tobacco cases thinking, 'This is definitely gonna go viral!' ...But it didn’t go viral at all (laughs). By the way, I don’t actually smoke (laughs)."

His creations aren’t just regular handicrafts. By filtering them through his yakuza persona, he elevates them into unique expressions where humor and art coexist. The ultimate example might be the special nail covers for a spiked bat.

"I put yarn covers over each nail in the spiked bat. It would normally look scary, but this makes it kind of cute, don’t you think? It’s cute, but it still feels like it’s got 'impact.' But if you ever use it, make sure to take them off so they don’t get dirty!"

His work isn’t limited to making pieces. He’s also passionate about teaching others the joy of knitting through workshops.

"I’d love to teach this to more kids, and someday do workshops as outreach at prisons or senior homes. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m really well-liked by kids. It makes me so happy to see everyone smiling while they knit."

"When teaching kids, I show them 'finger knitting,' where you just use your fingers, but you can still make things like hairbands and they have so much fun with it."

Knitting, which started out "just because it looked fun," is now moving on to the next stage.

"At first I started because I liked making people laugh, but as I kept going, I realized I really wanted to study it properly from scratch. I’m honestly thinking about going to school for it. Until now, I figured I’d just quit when I got bored, but lately I’ve been strongly feeling that I want to seriously master the basics."

When asked one last time about the appeal of knitting, he gave an unexpected answer.

"Knitting takes a lot of time, but in a way, that’s what makes it fun. Knitting time is always the most enjoyable time for me. When I see the finish line, I actually feel a bit sad. That’s why I hope everyone can enjoy and challenge themselves to spend more time with it, too."

Listening to Aipa Takizawa, it’s clear that knitting doesn’t require a special set of skills. What you do need is a sense of humor, the ability to heal, and just a little bit of grit.

Even today, yarn in hand, he continues to weave new "fun" and "kindness" into his creations.