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By Patricia Belyea
TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN How did I get an insider visit with the most famous indigo dyer in Tokushima? Serendipity—my favorite answer!
During a chance meeting with Yasuyuki Kimura, CEO of a Japanese goods company, I mentioned my search for indigo people, places, and products. My next stop, I told him, was Tokushima Prefecture—Japan’s indigo growing region.
Yasuyuki-san referred me to his friend, Hitoshi Doi, a jeweler and executive officer of the Creative Tokushima Cooperative. Not only did Hitoshi-san set up a meeting with Toshiharu Furusho, he picked me up and drove me there!
Furusho-sensei’s workshop, a barn-like building with an artfully carved sign, reflects decades of dedication to his art.
The accumulation of tools and materials, all tinged with shades of blue, portrays a life immersed in indigo creativity — and the legacy of previous generations. Furusho-sensei is a sixth-generation master craftsman in indigo dyeing.
Now in his late seventies, his work in katazome dyeing using naturally fermented indigo (sukumo), has been recognized with numerous auspicious awards over the decades.
When I asked if he cut out his own stencils, Furusho-sensei answered affirmatively. His work, he explained, has more spirit that way.
Although I didn’t personally meet Furusho-sensei’s daughter, Michiko, I noticed her involvement in the family enterprise. During my visit, she was busy assisting a customer in the showroom.
Hopefully, the seventh generation will carry on the tradition of aizome—the art of dyeing with natural indigo!
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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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