The Watanabe household is the one remaining consultant of conventional indigo dyeing in Gujo Hachiman and has saved the key for 15 generations.
Within the coronary heart of Japan's majestic mountains, the city of Gujo Hachiman preserves and preserves the artwork of indigo dyeing – an inseparable a part of Japan's cultural heritage, referred to as Gujo Aizome. The Watanabe household has continued this custom for 15 generations from the sixteenth century to the current and continues to unfold it to international vacationers who need to be taught extra concerning the indigenous artwork of hand-dying material.
Mr. Watanabe Kazuyoshi is the fifteenth technology of the Watanabe household to protect the artwork of indigo material dyeing.
A whole lot of years in the past, the city of Gujo Hachiman was well-known for its material dyeing trade. Positioned within the coronary heart of Gifu Prefecture, this place was as soon as a bustling fortress city throughout the Edo interval, the place samurai, farmers, craftsmen and retailers lived peacefully aspect by aspect. Specifically, the artwork of indigo dyeing right here just isn’t solely a logo of sophistication in trend but in addition a testomony to the creativity and peak craftsmanship of that point.
Watanabe Home, with a historical past of greater than 400 years, just isn’t solely a brilliant spot within the indigo dyeing trade but in addition a logo of perseverance and respect for custom. Mr. Watanabe Kazuyoshi, the fifteenth inheritor, continues his ancestors' craft by making use of conventional indigo dyeing methods, from utilizing pure indigo to the “tsutsugaki” (tube drawing) methodology to create merchandise. merchandise with distinctive patterns.
Within the context of sustainable tourism being more and more emphasised, Gujo Hachiman city and Watanabe home have turn into engaging locations for vacationers who need to discover conventional tradition by real-life experiences. Indigo dyeing workshops, together with the chance to go to the manufacturing facility and be taught concerning the manufacturing course of, open the door to attach guests with Japan's wealthy cultural heritage.
Contained in the Watanabe household's dyeing manufacturing facility.
The Watanabe household nonetheless makes use of the standard strategy of indigo shō aizome dyeing, utilizing pure indigo as an alternative of chemical dyes. Pure indigo is efficient as insect repellent and material strengthening, so aizome indigo material is usually used for clothes and furoshiki (Japanese wrapping material).
“Gujo-Honzome”, a present from the pure Indigo plant, has a deep inexperienced shade created by a meticulous repetitive dyeing course of. Indigo dyed material is made by soaking the material in a dye answer from a bunch of indigo leaves fermented with wooden ash, lime and wheat gluten in a pot positioned on the bottom.
The Watanabe household's artwork of indigo dyeing just isn’t solely a hand-crafted method but in addition a cultural information shared by generations. By sustaining and selling this artwork type, Gujo Hachiman city is making an necessary contribution to preserving cultural heritage not just for Japan however for the entire world by way of handmade material dyeing. The popularity by Gifu Prefecture, which designated indigo dyeing as an “Necessary Intangible Cultural Property” in 1979, is testomony to the worth and significance of preserving the standard artwork.
Within the fashionable period, when comfort and mass manufacturing have turn into in style, preserving and spreading conventional crafts reminiscent of Watanabe's indigo dyeing just isn’t solely a problem but in addition a possibility to emphasise the significance of sustainability, individuality and pure magnificence. This not solely educates the youthful technology concerning the worth of historical past and tradition but in addition encourages creativity and respect for the surroundings.
Dyeing material indigo produces a attribute blue shade.
The complexity of the indigo dyeing course of, from the number of pure components to the handbook steps, not solely requires excessive abilities but in addition a deep understanding of custom and the surroundings. The Watanabe household, over the centuries, has not solely preserved a craft but in addition unfold the worth of dwelling in concord with nature. Pure Indigo, with its insect-resistant and fabric-protecting properties, is a first-rate instance of conventional knowledge in profiting from what nature has to supply.
By opening their workshop for excursions and organizing workshops, the Watanabe household not solely shares methods but in addition conveys the significance of preserving cultural heritage. The direct interplay between artisans and guests facilitates the transmission of information and abilities, thereby encouraging curiosity and appreciation for artisanal arts.
The Watanabe household can be a testomony to adapting to the instances. Whereas preserving custom, additionally they don’t hesitate to use new expertise to advertise their merchandise and the artwork of indigo dyeing to the world. From utilizing social media to internet design, the Watanabes present flexibility and a willingness to innovate to protect and develop the artwork of indigo dyeing.
In winter, when indigo dyeing is tough to do, Mr. Watanabe Kazuyoshi personally makes Japanese carp flags to make use of for Youngsters's Day within the spring. A part of this manufacturing course of entails soaking the flag in chilly lake water in a single day to lighten the colour, tighten the fabric of the flag, and rinse off the pure lake used when coloring the flag. This course of is showcased yearly in an occasion referred to as Koinobori Kanzarashi, which takes place on the Kodara River close to Sogi Stream in central Gujo Hachiman.
Gujo Hachiman is a peaceable city well-known for preserving many sorts of conventional Japanese tradition.
The normal indigo dyeing artwork of the Watanabe household in Gujo Hachiman just isn’t solely part of Japanese historical past and tradition, but in addition a logo of sustainability and respect for nature. By combining conventional preservation and sustainable tourism improvement, Gujo Hachiman and the Watanabe household are opening a brand new path for sharing and appreciating cultural heritage with the world. Within the fashionable context, preserving and growing the artwork of indigo dyeing just isn’t solely the job of knowledgeable but in addition the accountability of the complete group, for a sustainable future wealthy in cultural worth.
Based on the newest statistics of tourists to Japan introduced by the Japan Tourism Promotion Company (JNTO), the variety of Vietnamese guests to Japan in 2023 is 573,900 folks, a rise of 15.9% in comparison with 2019 (earlier than the Covid epidemic). -19). That is the very best quantity ever for the variety of Vietnamese guests to Japan inside a 12 months.
Based on Mr. Yoshida Kenji – Chief Consultant of JNTO in Vietnam, in 2024, the variety of vacationers from Vietnam to Japan will proceed to extend, and JNTO will cooperate with organizations and people within the tourism trade. Implementing the promotion of three new tourism methods proposed by the Japanese Authorities, together with “Creating sustainable tourism”, “Attracting elevated consumption”, “Selling native sightseeing” proper in Vietnam , thereby contributing to promotion trade of vacationers between the 2 international locations.
>> See extra images of cloth dyeing at Gujo Hachiman
Gujo Hachiman will be reached closest from Takayama or Nagoya
The material dyeing workshop at Watanabe's home lasts two to 3 hours, together with all levels. The worth for one participant is 8,800 yen (about 1.4 million). From Might to October is indigo season so workshops happen constantly. From November to April, artisan Watanabe Kazuyoshi can be busy making carp lanterns and merchandise for the vacation season, so there can be no workshops.
Instructions to Watanabe's material dyeing workshop:
- 25 minutes stroll from Gujo Hachiman on the Nagaragawa practice line
- By bus: Gifu Bus stops at Joka-machi Plaza and takes 5 minutes on foot