Kurume Kasuri

 

This is a typical cotton kasuri produced in the area around Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Inspired by white spots on old clothes, a young girl named Den Inoue tied threads, dyed them, and wove them, which resulted in a white spotted pattern. After further improvements, it became famous as cotton kasuri. The traditional method of hand-weaving kasuri threads, which have been dyed with natural indigo after being hand-tied or tied, has been designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan. It is characterized by its simple cotton texture, deep indigo color, and clear kasuri pattern. Many kasuri patterns, such as cross kasuri, tortoiseshell kasuri, and auspicious kasuri, are seen in white and pale indigo, but nowadays a variety of patterns are woven and it continues to be loved as a highly artistic kimono.

 

 

Hakata weaving

 

A general term for textiles produced mainly in Hakata, Fukuoka City. It often refers to the representative obi fabric, and Kenjo Hakata is particularly famous for its dokko pattern and stiff weave with horizontal ridges. In addition to Kenjo, striped and patterned obi, and for summer use, Shakenjo obi with a gauze ground are also woven.