Follow Your Heart
A conversation with Amos Kotomori, owner and curator of Villa Bodhi Bali
By Stacy Porteus
Originally posted on Asiadreams.com, June 11, 2017
Dividing his time between one paradise and another, renowned Hawaii-born designer, Amos Kotomori, likes to compare his new home of Bali to the island of Manhattan in New York City, where anything and everything is possible.
Asia Dreams: Your family is originally from Japan. How did you find yourself lucky enough to be born and raised in Hawaii?
Kotomori: I was lucky by chance; perhaps destiny. I am sansei, third generation Japanese to the Hawaiian Islands. My father was the first Japanese osteopath in Hawaii. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and this is certainly true in Hawaii. I called everyone aunty, uncle, grandma or grandpa in their ethnic tongue. I never really knew who was blood related or not. Hawaii is where I was born and raised, although Bali is fast becoming my second home.
Asia Dreams: What was it about growing up in Hawaii that influenced your path as a designer?
Kotomori: Hawaii feeds your eyes and heart. Inspiration comes from the taste of sushi, Thai and Indian curries, pesto, kim chee, Portuguese sweet bread and more. The stories, beliefs and island magic guide and protect me. My mom sewed costumes for ballet troupes and taught flower arranging on the weekends. Those special memories helped mold how I see the world with joy and wonderment. Each day is another opportunity to create happy memories and living on an island is about the art of living.
Asia Dreams: You specialize in many different design genres including clothing, photography, as well as residential and commercial interiors. Anything else in the works?
Kotomori: I have a line of men’s shirts sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus in Honolulu with plans to go national soon. I celebrate my second year this fall and present four collections every year. I also have a line of jewelry called Energy Within that I present twice a year for charity benefits. I am an art director, production designer and event coordinator for print, film and video. There are so many paths to choose from. Painting will be my next adventure.
Asia Dreams: What are some of your career highlights working with Hollywood in Hawaii?
Kotomori: When you live in Hawaii, Hollywood comes to you. Many celebrities, including the actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, wear my shirt designs which provide old couture styling for men. I’ve styled film and print shoots for all the five-star hotels and resorts in Hawaii and have worked on many national and international advertising projects from hotels to fashion to food.
Asia Dreams: You recently designed and built a beautiful villa compound north of Ubud. What influenced your choice of the traditional joglo structures used throughout Villa Bodhi?
Kotomori: Villa Bodhi started with a dream. I saw this object in my sleep, awakened and said the word ‘Bali’. I had never been there, didn’t know where it was, but in two weeks I was there. I actually found the vision and not by accident bought a very large teak door, much too large for my simple home in Honolulu. I did what any creative person would do; I built around the door and Villa Bodhi was realized. The joglo is a traditional architectural feature in the Balinese lifestyle. I have an all-teak gledak cottage originally built in 1856. Villa Bodhi is about appreciating, supporting and giving back to Bali in every way.
Asia Dreams: You share your time between two of the most beautiful places in the world. What is it about Bali that tempted you to build your dream home halfway around the world?
Kotomori: I follow my heart. I built not to rent or sell, but to create a place to live and feel life. Bali doesn’t seem half-way around the world, but more like an extended family that lives within my heart.
Asia Dreams: Is it true that Bali can be described as heaven on earth for the creative person?
Kotomori: Bali is home to the gods. I feel their presence, walk in their breath, and see their beauty in the Balinese people. One word for me that describes Bali is ‘possibility’. Everything is possible if you believe and see joy and goodness. There is a heart that exists in the land. I tell people that Villa Bodhi is a place where one can feel silence between the heartbeats.
Asia Dreams: What is it about Bali and Hawaii that make these two places the most popular holiday destinations in the world?
Kotomori: The people. I was born a Buddhist. ‘Life is a struggle’ is one of the first mantras to understand. It’s a way of learning how to live. The Japanese believe that destiny is created when you are given a name. The middle name, Sadamu, was given to me by the temple at the moment of my birth. It means never failing, to always be able to stand up again. This doesn’t mean that I don’t fail; it means that it is more important to learn the lesson so it won’t be repeated again. I truly believe that we are only as strong as the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Hawaii and Bali are centered, each a place where people foster kindness.
Asia Dreams: You’re known for always working on a number of innovative projects at any given time. What’s happening in the world of Amos Kotomori right now?
Kotomori: I’m creating time to renew, re-energize, and simply see the world again. I am just in the post chemotherapy stages of cancer of the colon, bladder and pelvic bone. There is a reason for me being here now – the fifth element. Earth, wind, fire and water when combined create the fifth element – space. I am asking myself what I am doing in the space that I take in this world.
