tourism

Kasuri is a textile-making technique where weft and warp threads are dyed in specific configurations so that patterns appear when the fabric is woven. Kasuri techniques are said to have originated in India, from where it then spread across the world, coming to Japan through Okinawa. Kurume Kasuri was created by a young woman named Den Inoue around the year 1800, and refers to kasuri fabric that was woven in the former Kurume feudal domain (which includes the modern-day towns of Hirokawa, Chikugo, and Yame). Currently, fewer than 20 Kurume Kasuri weavers remain in this area. Among makers, a wide variety of techniques are used, including traditional hand-weaving, indigo-dying, and power shuttle machine weaving.

Established in 1898, Nomura Textile is a long-standing weaver located in Hirokawa Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. A traditional maker with high technical skills, Nomura Textile weaves highly difficult weft-warp kasuri patterns as well as classic Kurume Kasuri patterns. The company machine-weaves and uses chemical dyes, but dyes its own threads, a process other Kurume Kasuri weavers often outsource. And though the kasuri is machine-woven, Nomura Textile uses 100-year-old Toyota automatic looms to create their fabric. One craftsperson is assigned to four looms to make adjustments — operating and maintaining each machine with care.

At the Kurume Kasuri Hirokawa Association, an essential tying process for making Kurume Kasuri called “kukuri” is carried out. In the past, “kukuri craftsmen” conducted this tying through the division of labor. However, over the past 10 years, this has all but vanished. Today, the Kurume Kasuri Hirokawa Association hires craftsmen to do the kukuri tying process. While the traditional technique of hand tying, called “te kukuri” is still used throughout the production area, one of the main characteristics of Kurume Kasuri is that most of the tying can now be done by machine. On this tour, visitors will have a chance to see machine tying, “kikai kukuri”, which is usually not available to the public.

With over 30 processes involved in the creation of Kurume Kasuri, it is difficult to understand it entirely in just one visit. This tour is designed to make the most of one day, visiting a variety of different weavers to learn about production techniques, the history of Kurume Kasuri, the characteristics of the production area, and each weaver’s hopes for the future. With the explanations of a professional guide, visitors will be able to gain an objective understanding of Hirokawa’s Kurume Kasuri production. This tour is recommended for those from other textile production areas, those who wish to do business or trade using Kurume Kasuri, and those who are visiting on a study or inspection tour.