Nishijin brocade (called Nishijin ori in Japanese) is woven silk produced in the northwestern part of Kyoto. Kamigyo ward and Kita ward cover this area of Kyoto today, but the name used to be Nishijin. According to official rules, only the brocade…

View more

Miyako jofu is a textile produced on the island of Miyakojima, Okinawa prefecture. It is woven from a fabric called ramie and dyed with Ryukyu indigo, a type of indigo native to Okinawa. This textile has a fine kasuri pattern* and a smooth and lu…

View more

Kumejima tsumugi silk is a textile produced on the island of Kumejima, Okinawa prefecture. The history of this craft goes back all the way to the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This textile is distinct because of its elegant texture and deep color …

View more

Ryukyu kasuri is a textile made in Okinawa prefecture. It is made mostly from silk and dyed with both plant and synthetic dyes using a kasuri* or resist-dyeing technique. This craft features over six hundred different kinds of patterns inspired by…

View more

Chibana Hanaori is a textile produced in Chibana, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture. The characteristic of Chibana Hanaori is the flowery patterns woven in the base textile. Textiles that have a continuous geometric pattern like Chibana Hanaori are…

View more

Yaeyama Minsa is a fabric produced in Taketomicho, Yaeyama Ward and Ishigaki City in Okinawa. The origin is not clear but it is assumed that the Kasuri belt seen in Afghanistan was brought to Okinawa via China. The fabric was also used for the Kak…

View more

Yaeyama Jofu is a fabric produced in the area surrounding Yaeyama Ward in Okinawa Prefecture. The fabric is woven with the hand-spun threads from Choma (ramie) and it was dedicated to the Ryukyu Kingdom in the old days. Yaeyama Jofu is the only fa…

View more

Shuri Ori refers to woven cloth produced in the main island of Okinawa. It falls into two types, Hiorimono and Monorimono, such as Hanaui, Hanakura Ori, Doton Ori, Kasuri and Minsa. The Ryukyu Dynasty was active in trade with China and Southeast A…

View more

It is not clear when the production of Yomitanzan Hanaori first started. However, it is considered that the production of the textile started sometime in the 15th century. The Ryukyu Royal Kingdom was actively trading with China and the Southeast…

View more

Kyo Sashimono is a type of wood craft produced in Kyoto Prefecture. Sashimono is a collective name for furniture and furnishings assembled with joints, and it is said that over 500 types of products can be created using the various techniques. The…

View more

Kijoka No Bashofu refers to woven cloth produced in Ogimi Village, Okinawa. Bashofu is made from the fibers of the Japanese banana plant called Basho, and has been worn in kimono among commoners in Okinawa since ancient times. Kijoka No Bashofu is…

View more

Yonaguni Ori is a textile produced in Yonaguni-cho, Yaeyama Gun, Okinawa Prefecture. The characteristic of Yonaguni Ori is the simple beauty of the textile that is dyed and woven by hand in the distinctive climate. The textile is divided into the …

View more

Yomitanzan Minsa is a textile produced in the region around Yomitanson, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa prefecture.　Min means cotton and Sa means a narrow belt. This kind of narrow belt was made in various regions in Okinawa from ancient times. Basically, …

View more

Haebaru woven flowers are essentialy made in the city of Haebaru in the Okinawa prefecture. Only flowers harvested in the prefecture such as garcinia or an indigo plant called Ryukyu ai are used to dye the yarns. Haebaru woven flowers are unique i…

View more