We call the textile traditions nurtured in the Chikugo region of Kyushu “Native Textiles.” By connecting local makers with creators from Japan and around the world, we shape their future together.
About This Site
A Textile Production Region Takes on Interior Design
A Textile Production Region Takes on Interior Design
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Chikugo: A Landscape of Craft
Hirokawa, Yame, Chikugo, and Ōki
Chikugo is a hub of everyday craft. From textiles to woodworking (furniture, Buddhist altars, tubs, cutting boards, toys), bamboo craft, washi paper, lanterns, ceramics, stonemasonry, and metalwork—these diverse traditions continue to thrive to this day.
We hope to carry forward the richness of this land, where scenes of making can be found everywhere, and pass it on to the next generation.
Major Traditional Industries
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Machine Weaving
- Shuttle looms manufactured 100 years ago are still in use today, weaving soft fabrics with a distinctly craft-like character.
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Indigo Dyeing
- From sukumo made from Japanese indigo (tade-ai) and fermented using traditional materials to indigo dye baths chemically derived from Indian indigo— a wide range of indigo forms are used.
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Kukuri Tying
- The technique that defines Kurume kasuri is tying (kukuru). Bundles of yarn are bound with other threads to resist dye, allowing color to be applied only to specific areas. Today, machine tying is practiced only in the Chikugo region, making it unique in the world.
