🌟Japanese Cross‑Stitch Book Picks: Monthly Inspirations from Japan: May

This month’s update brings a rare and exciting surprise in Amazon Japan’s “Embroidery & Sashiko” bestseller rankings. As always, I extract only the cross‑stitch titles hidden within this category—since Amazon Japan does not offer a dedicated cross‑stitch section. Most of the top‑ranked books are general embroidery or sashiko, and cross‑stitch titles are usually few and far between.

For this month’s list, I’ve excluded two books that previously appeared in past rankings (6th and 36th place). Even with those removed, something remarkable happened:

DMC’s anniversary book reached No.1 overall.

It’s extremely rare for a cross‑stitch book to take the top spot in this category, which makes this month’s results especially noteworthy. As expected, DMC continues to show its influence and enduring popularity among stitchers in Japan.

Please note that Amazon Japan’s rankings update every hour based on sales, so positions may shift throughout the day. The titles below reflect the latest snapshot at the time of writing.

Here are this month’s cross‑stitch highlights.

1 | #1– DMC 280th Anniversary Book (Stitch Ideé Special Edition)

A celebratory collection honoring DMC’s 280‑year legacy, filled with elegant motifs, refined color palettes, and beautifully photographed projects. This special edition blends classic European sensibility with Japanese editorial style, making it a treasure for stitchers who appreciate timeless design and high‑quality presentation. A well‑deserved No.1.

Print edition only

DMC 280th Anniversary Book

This book commemorates the 280th anniversary of the French craft manufacturer DMC, showcasing the company's history and the allure of embroidery. Drawing on their extensive archives, it presents their history and reproduces cross-stitch patterns left behind by Thérèse Dillmont. Enjoy these historically rich works, along with the special bonus pattern collection.

https://amzn.to/4tKqZkZ

２| #40  – Small Cross‑Stitch Pattern Collection

A compact yet charming assortment of small motifs—perfect for quick projects, gifts, and decorative accents. The book features clean charts and a variety of themes, making it ideal for stitchers who enjoy collecting versatile patterns they can use again and again.

Kindle edition available

Small Cross‑Stitch Pattern Collection

This book introduces a variety of cross-stitch designs perfect for adding a touch of detail to fabric accessories for children and adults, including flowers, animals, fruits, sweets, vehicles, alphabets, Halloween, Christmas, and borders. It also covers the basics of cross-stitching.

https://amzn.to/4tMBiF7

３| #48– Simple & Stylish Easy Cross‑Stitch

A beginner‑friendly yet aesthetically pleasing collection focused on clean lines, soft colors, and modern Japanese simplicity. The patterns are easy to follow and beautifully photographed, making this book a lovely choice for anyone who enjoys light, relaxing stitching.

Print edition only

Simple & Stylish Easy Cross‑Stitch

This is the fourth installment in our easy cross-stitch series, perfect for beginners. It features a variety of designs, focusing on simple, sophisticated "adult-cute" pieces, along with popular, colorful designs.

https://amzn.to/4n1WR1L

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Past Rankings (Books excluded this time)

Ranked in February

#6 - “Fushigi no Kuni no Cross Stitch” by Rei Kur

“Fushigi no Kuni no Cross Stitch” by Rei Kurahashi

Illustrations by popular illustrator Kurahashi Rei have been turned into cross-stitch pieces. Kurahashi's unique illustrations have been embroidered, featuring children, animals, cats with various expressions, and children in each season.

https://amzn.to/4rfY7Q9

Ranked in April

#36 -Stitch Ideé vol.48 (Heart Warming Life Series)

Stitch Ideé vol.48 (Heart Warming Life Series)

This issue features two major themes: "Spring Botanical Flowers" and "Redwork Embroidery." In addition, we offer a wealth of content, from easy-to-stitch projects like small gifts and single-point embroidery to more challenging and substantial designs, as well as lessons on how to stitch beautifully.

https://amzn.to/47GRcrD

I hope these selections add a gentle spark to your creative routine. 

I look forward to sharing more discoveries with you next month.

 😊Happy creation !