Bashofu - A Traditional Craft of Okinawa This video, titled "手技TEWAZA「喜如嘉の芭蕉布」Kijoka Banana fiber Cloth／伝統工芸 青山スクエア Japan traditional crafts Aoyama Square," was released by Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama. Bashofu is a cloth woven from the fiber of the Japanese banana plant. Most of Bashofu is made in Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami Islands, and in particular, the Kijoka area of Ogimi Village in Okinawa Prefecture is a major production area referred to as "Bashofu no Sato" (lit. "The Village of Bashofu"). The History of Okinawa's Bashofu The origin of Bashofu is not 100% clear, but it is known that it was already being made with advanced technology in Ryukyu by the 16th century. The royalty and warriors of the Ryukyu Kingdom used to wear lavish costumes. Their wives were said to have worn beautiful Bashofu garments. Throughout its long history, Bashofu has continued to be made in Okinawa as we know it today. The handmade bashofu of Kijoka is especially beautiful and the detail of the artisans is absolutely astonishing. Purchasing Traditional Handmade Bashofu It takes a long time to produce traditional Bashofu, so only about 119,000 sq. meters of it are produced each year. However, in order to spread the beautiful texture of Bashofu, efforts are being made to pass on techniques and train successors. Kijoka's Bashofu, known as Okinawa's traditional fabric, is sold as a variety of traditional handicrafts on the island. In addition to traditional kimonos and obis, modern shirts, bags, key chains, tapestries, and other accessories are also available. In addition to buying a kimono, you can also make your own custom-made item using scraps of kimono fabric. Summary of Kijoka-Bashofu As you can see in the video, Okinawa's Kijoka-Bashofu is a beautiful and delicate traditional craft. At the Bashofu Museum in Ogimi Village, you can learn more about the traditional skills and techniques of the artisans who weave Bashofu. When you visit Kijoka, be sure to visit the Bashofu Museum to learn more about one of Okinawa's industries, the traditional Japanese craft of Bashofu!

Bingata - A Traditional Japanese Craft This video, titled "BINGATA – Az okinawai textilfestés," was created by "Teodora Vegh." It introduces Rei Ishida (石田麗), who currently makes Bingata in a workshop in Oita Prefecture (大分県). Bingata is a traditional dyeing technique representative of Okinawa, and is sometimes referred to as "Ryukyu Somemono" (琉球染物). This dyeing technique is used to create beautiful clothing items and accessories which are available for purchase. Check out the video to learn more about the history of this traditional craft and how Bingata products are made! The History of Bingata, A Traditional Japanese Craft Source :YouTube screenshot The Bingata dyeing technique has been used in Okinawa since the 13th century. It's said that this technique was developed to create kimono for the royal family at the time. The kanji characters for "Bingata," which until then was simply written in hiragana, were chosen during the Showa period (1926 AD - 1989 AD). Since the Second World War, Bingata workshops have opened up all over Japan and items are now produced as works of art. How Bingata is Made Source :YouTube screenshot The craftsmen must first design and create a stencil that will be used to apply a motif to the fabric. The stencil is cut out carefully by hand. This process can be seen at 0:40 in the video. Once the stencil is made, a paste is applied on top of the stencil (1:38 in the video) followed by paint to apply color to the material. The brushes used to dye the fabric are often made from human hair. Other dyeing methods such as Tsutsugaki (筒描き) and Aizome (藍染) are often used, as well as the traditional Bingata dyeing technique. After applying color, the fabric is then steamed and soaked in water to remove the paste. The Bingata dyeing process shown in the video is as follows: 1. Design 2. Stencil carving (0:39～) 3. Paste application (1:44～) 4. "Gobiki" (2:36～) 5. Color application (3:05～) 6. "Sumitori" (4:03～) 7. Steaming 8. Soaking 9. Nori paste application 10. Dyeing 11. Steaming 12. Soaking 13. Sewing 14. Finish Purchasing Bingata Dyed Goods Source :YouTube screenshot Bingata fabric is used to create many items such as furoshiki (風呂敷), tapestries, accessories, kimono, yukata, furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and hanhaba obi (half-width obi/kimono sash). The bright, bold coloring of Bingata dyed goods is typical of Okinawa. Bingata items can be purchased in workshops and gift shops around Okinawa and Kyushu. In recent years, the number of Bingata items being sold online has been increasing making it even easier to find and purchase the patterns that suit you best. Summary of Bingata, A Traditional Craft of Okinawa Source :YouTube screenshot Making beautiful Bingata dyed goods like those introduced in the video involves a series of complicated processes. Clothing and accessories made from Bingata dyed fabric make great Japanese souvenirs! Have fun searching for your favorite Bingata goods!

PR Video of Traditional Ryukyu Lacquerware Owned by the Urasoe City Museum of Art This video called “Okinawa: Meet Ryukyu lacquerware and art (琉球漆芸とアートに出会う沖縄　Narration+Subtitle Ver.)” produced by the Urasoe city office is to promote the Urasoe City Museum of Art, the only museum specializing in lacquerware in Okinawa. The museum is about 40 minutes from Naha airport by car. This video features the traditional Ryukyu lacquerware (琉球漆器, Ryukyu Shikki) and its history (1:57). Let's see how wonderful the Urasoe City Museum of Art, with its 1500 traditional works of art, including Ryukyu lacquerware, actually is. What Is Ryukyu Lacquerware? Its History, Origin, and Characteristics! Source :YouTube screenshot Ryukyu lacquerware has developed in tandem with the culture of the Ryukyu Dynasty (1429 to 1879). The unique techniques for Ryukyu lacquerware were introduced into the Ryukyu Dynasty during the 14th and 15th century when trade between the Ryukyu Dynasty and China was active. Ryukyu lacquerware was made from tiger's claw (Erythrina variegata), the prefectural flower of Okinawa. The unique patterning technique, called "Tsuikin," is used to thinly spread the "tsuikin mochi" (a mixture of lacquer and colored ink). There are various types of Ryukyu lacquerware, such as Suzuri-bako, tea cup holders, cups, serving plates, trays, tiered food boxes, and wooden containers using the unique shell inlay and sunken gold techniques. Some studios and long established stores accept orders to repair broken lacquerware as well. Ryukyu lacquerware, made by the master Ryukyu lacquerware artisans, in the shape of bitter melons and hibiscus, are great souvenirs of Okinawa. These Ryukyu lacquerwares are available in "Ryukyu sikki Itoman" or "Kakuman shikki" on Kokusai-dori (国際通り: International Street). These products can be also bought at online stores, such as Rakuten or Amazon, at a cost of several thousand yen (several tens of dollars). The Ryukyu Lacquerware of the Urasoe City Museum of Art Source :YouTube screenshot About 60 craft works of Ryukyu lacquerwares are displayed at the Urasoe City Museum of Art regularly. These include items such as lacquer tea boxes (白檀塗楼閣山水箔絵湯庫) (video: 2:31) , Black lacquer trays (黒漆雲龍螺鈿盆) (video: 2:48), traditional lacquer sake barrels (朱漆牡丹巴紋七宝繋沈金足付盆) (video: 3:03), lacquer food boxes (潤塗花鳥箔絵密陀絵丸形食籠) (video: 3:18) a black lacquer album cover (黒漆米軍戦車堆錦アルバム表紙) (video: 3:35), and more. Some of them were used for ceremonies at Shurijo Castle. The Ryukyu Folding Screen and The Eight Views of Ryukyu made by Hokusai Katushika in 1832 are also kept in this museum. Other art exhibitions or photo exhibitions are held in the main exhibition hall. Make Your Own Ryukyu Lacquerware! Source :YouTube screenshot If you're interested in traditional Okinawan crafts and/or culture, such as Ryukyu lacquerware, we recommend getting a catalogue of this museum. There are also some experience-based events held at the Urasoe City Museum of Art, such as "Magical museum" or the "Miniature Life Museum." At the museum, you'll find the Regular showroom, Main exhibit, Library, Laboratory room, and museum shop. You can also enjoy lunch at the café "Hana Urushi" while appreciating the works at the museum. They also offer classes throughout the year, so if you're interested in Ryukyu lacquerware after watching this video, be sure to give it a try. Summary of the Urasoe City Museum of Art Okinawa is one of most popular places for tourists. There are many other tourist spots around this city museum, such as the "Urasoe Castle Ruins," "Iso Castle Ruins," "Minatogawa Foreign Settlement," "Iso Castle Ruins observation deck," "Minatogawa Stateside Town," "Urasoe Sports Park," "Urasoe yodore," and the "Maeda Highlands." If you learn more about the traditional Okinawan crafts introduced in the video, you'll be able to enjoy your visit to Okinawa even more. As you can tell from the video, the Urasoe Art Museum in Okinawa has a beautiful exterior and garden. If you visit Okinawa, we highly recommend checking out this museum. ◆Information of Urasoe City Museum of Art ◆ 【Address】1-9-2 Urasoe-shi Okinawata 【Access】40 minutes by car from Naha Airport 【Admission fee】Adults : 200 yen, University students : 130 yen, Senior citizens (65 years+) : 160 yen, high school students and younger : Free (As of December, 2019) Additional admission fees may be required depending on events (advance tickets are available) 【Hours】9:30 to 17:00 【Parking】Available (Free) 【Telephone No.】098-879-3219 【Official Website】Urasoe City Museum of Art http://museum.city.urasoe.lg.jp/ 【Tripadvisor】Urasoe City Museum of Art https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1023463-d2465726-Reviews-Urasoe_City_Art_Museum-Urasoe_Okinawa_Prefecture.html