To book an upcoming textile tour to Japan with Okan Arts +click here
By Patricia Belyea
CHIBA JP I first learned about Old Industrial on Instagram. Intriguing photos of Japanese folk textiles captured a mood of history and magic.
Click! I became one of 60,000 Old Industrial followers worldwide.
I wanted to meet the person behind this special enterprise — and visit the 180-year-old farmhouse brimming with extraordinary textiles.
This week, Victoria and I returned to Japan for a 30-day stay to lead two textile tours. On our Jet Lag Day, we took a one-hour bus ride into the countryside of Chiba Prefecture.
Ryuichi Okuno greeted us at the bus terminal and drove us to Studio Waraya, home of Old Industrial. The day shone bright—a striking contrast to the dark wooden building.
Although the house appeared quiet, Ryuichi’s children soon burst outside to greet their father and instantly became best friends with Victoria. His wife, Hitomi, quietly joined us.
While Victoria played badminton and kept the little ones busy, Hitomi lit a cooking fire and began preparing lunch. Ryuichi and I started exploring the rooms filled with textile treasures.
As a young man, Ryuichi was enamored with American vintage clothing. Ultimately his focus shifted to Japanese history and folk textiles. Now, Ryuichi champions Japan’s traditions and the old ways.
As he touched each piece in his collection, Ryuichi said in the sweetest singsong voice: I love it. All the textiles are for sale, but while they await their new owners, they have a happy home.
Join me for a pictorial tour of Old Industrial:
This detail is from fisherman’s ceremonial robe, maiwai, that was made in Chiba. Brushes were used to dye the lively pattern, similar to yuzen dyeing, but in a much bolder fashion.
This hyakutoku vest combines silk fragments given to a baby girl at birth. Hyakutoku translates to “100 virtues”—such as longevity, happiness, and wisdom. The patchwork-style jacket was likely worn at a coming-of-age ceremony or another auspicious event.
Ryuichi pointed out that the pumpkin-colored design elements of this Ainu robe from Hokkaido were made from safflower-dyed cotton sourced from Japan’s main island. The northern island is too cold to grow benibana, the thistle-like dye plant used for this color.
Where did the name Old Industrial come from? I asked.
Ryuichi explained that he loves old and new, nature and industry. From these loves, he coined Old Industrial.
Lunch. Did someone say lunch? Victoria and I were treated to yakimochi and rice balls grilled over an open fire with delicious miso. We ate family-style, with me sharing some of my food with hungry little Aoha.
As we wrapped up our time together, we fantasized about Ryuichi and his family visiting my log home in the Okanogan Highlands. After watching a Discovery Channel show on the Gold Rush, Ryuichi dreams of panning for gold.
I fulfilled my desire to visit Old Industrial in Chiba. I hope Ryuichi can fulfill his dream of discovering little flecks of gold in Toroda Creek. (Just over 100 years ago, the Bodie Gold Mine was active less than a mile from my home.)
Anything is possible!
To visit the Old Industrial website +click here
To see @OldIndustrial on Instagram +click here
If you want to visit Old Industrial, use the Contact form on the website to make an appointment.
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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.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
