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ALL PHOTOS ARE FROM THE BASHOFU EXHIBIT AT THE OKINAWA PREFECTURAL MUSEUM — EXCEPT THE PHOTOS OF THE BANANA FIELD, AND THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE HALL.
By Patricia Belyea
OKINAWA JP Simply sublime — bashofu is an all-natural cloth made from the fibers of ito-basho, a banana variety found in Okinawa.
The cloth is pale and paper-like, with delicate ikat patterns created from yarn dyed in bundles. These are traditionally colored with Yeddo hawthorn (brown) or Ryukyu indigo (blue).
The craft of making bashofu was nearly lost after World War II, when most of the banana trees were cut down or died. Toshiko Taira became the hero of the revitalization movement, replanting banana trees and reviving bashofu weaving.
Toshiko dedicated her life to bashofu, creating the traditional textile and teaching others the craft.
INTERVIEW WITH TOSHIKO TAIRA WHO LIVED TO 101.
Producing bashofu fabric is extraordinarily challenging, involving a meticulous 23-step process with countless opportunities for error along the way.
During my visit to the Kijoka Bashofu Industrial Cooperative Association, I participated in u-hagi, the process of stripping the ito-basho stalks. Alongside Nao, my instructor, I ventured out to the plantation along a muddy path.
Nao felled three stalks. We carefully peeled away each concentric layer, organizing the strips according to their distance from the outer layer. We then wrapped the groupings with a discarded strip.
Back at Bashofu Hall, we toured the building, though photography was restricted in many areas.
Creating bashofu requires immense commitment, with every step patiently done by hand. The artisans are aging and interest in this traditional craft is dwindling.
I’m thrilled to have visited an ito-basho plantation, explored the Kijoka Bashofu Hall, and met members of the Kijoka Bashofu Industrial Cooperative Association who are devoted to keeping this craft alive.
To visit the website of Kijoka Bashofu +click here
Location
454 Kijoka, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, 905-1303
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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