http://www.sangokan.com/books/978-4-88320-388-8.html

This is about the agriculture for Kimono textile in Japan.

I agree what author said Because
natural textile connect agriculture very strong and deep.
We won't be able to make textile without natural fiber and natural dyeing material.
Its very hard to make it.
for example,
cotton, hemp, silk....
It takes time all of yarn because you have to grow first before to make yarn.
Its a long process until we will get a clothing.
There are many effort.
I respect that they are working so hard to make it.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/日本の自然布-別冊太陽/dp/4582944612

This is about Japanese ancient natural textile.
Its a very expensive book.
Also japan has many type of natural textile.
Its interesting and excited to learn japanese history through ancient textile.
You can see another view of our country.

YUKI Tsumugi which is the most beautiful, difficult hand weaving textile

Yuki Tsumugi is the most expensive, important and beautiful Kimono textile in Japan.

1 Tan is size of length which is 12.40 m for japanese traditional Kimono clothing.
If you have 1 tan of kimono textile you will be able to make 1 japanese traditional Kimono clothing.

Well,
Yuki Tsumugi is one of kimono textile in japan which is the most difficult process to make it.
It is a official national treasure in Japan.

They use a special hand weaving machine which calls "Zibata".
It is more difficult to use than "Takabata" is.
Ooshima tsumugi is using "Takabata".
Of source to use "Takabata" is difficult too.

Zibata needs a great balance to make a beautiful textile.
Someone who weave Yuki tsumugi have to concentrate to make it.

to be continue....

the first yarn in Japan

The first yarn in Japan is hemp which was found in Torihama ruins in Fukui prefecture in Japan.
It was from 10000years ago.
Japan has long history of Hemp.

Because Japanese word which is "Nuno" means Hemp long time ago.
If I translate "Nuno" in English, it is textile.
Usually when people had talked about textile, those almost were hemp in Japan.

Also Hemp have been used by many shrine.

Known everybody scared thing in Japan is "SHIMENAWA" which made from hemp.

And many of pattern from hemp was popular in Japan.
people have loved it.

Ka Cho Fu Getsu

Ka Cho Fu Getsu means kind of Nature, All of life long time ago.

Ka is flower, Cho is bird, Fu is Wind and Getsu is Moon.

Old people does not feel difference themselves and Nature.
There was no border.

They had thought we were part of nature,
we were embraced and holden them by nature
And they had had respected Nature more than they are.
Like known Nature is an awe-inspiring.

When you saw Kimono textile you can find a lot of pattern of nature.

Its not only from Kimono.
When you will see japanese traditional thing,
No matter what it is japanese traditional one, you can find something nature sign.

photo by http://www.senga-sanjin.com/sakuhin.html

About Shimebata

Shimebata is loom for to make double ikat.
It developed around 1907 in Amami island.
This is the special technique of Ooshima tsumugi to make difficult pattern ikat with beautiful and perfect.
Woop of silk is inserted between warp of cotton yarn
then It is weaved and bind hard by warp.
*warp of cotton yarn is just for to resist dye.
It needs strong power to make beautiful and clear ikat.

Finally It will make to resist printing when it will dye.

photo by http://tabikaratabi.pro.tok2.com/page145.html
http://www.amakara.jp/whats_ohshima/o_seihou.html

Ancient village Teganan in Bali

There is one village which is Teganan in Bali. This village is very unique. They have been doing consanguineous marriage since long long time ago.
It is very old culture in the world.
Some race in the world, in japan, especially nomadic people was.
They have to leave offspring.

Well,
Teganan is very unique in the world as textile of double ikat too.

*about ikat please check below if you don't know.
http://shinrany.blogspot.jp/2012/05/about-kasuri.html

They made a special textile for God, something great.
To offer textile for it takes 10 years per each.

They are doing dyeing yarn blue and red again, again and again.
Especially red color takes 8 years.
It is made a beautiful and deep red by time.

Then they weave by hand.
It must be Art and has a great power.

photo by http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/cabe1101/1513008.html

A principle of Ooshima tsumugi

There are many kind of Tsumugi textile in Japan.
also There are fake one too.
I can let you know How can you find real one out.

1. All of product must be 100% silk.
2. It must be a yarn dyeing from doro some and hand weaving.
3. It must be plane weave.
4. A splashed pattern is made by Shime bata( in which special weaving loom for dyeing )

If you can find Ooshima tsumugi which cover the principle 1~4
you can find this trademark of  on product.
Its called "Tikyu shirushi" means trademark of the Earth.
It promise you that is is a proof of high-end brand in Kimono textile.

If you will find similer trade mark
it means its include camical dyeing and machine weaving.

photo by http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/jyuzakenji/49949196.html