Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship: Full-Immersion Course -35 Days
Kurume Kasuri is a traditional dyed textile from southern Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan that dates back to around 1800. During this program, you will spend about one month at the workshop of Sakata Orimono, where you will experience every step of the process, making a Kurume Kasuri textile (about 12 m) based on your own design. It is a program that will truly provide inspiration for both your creative endeavors and your life. Kazuo Sakata, the CEO of Sakata Orimono, will deliver online lectures before and after your stay to provide in-depth learning and discoveries that extend beyond the program period.
- ● Create a Kurume Kasuri textile piece based on your own design
- ● Experience most of the major steps of the Kurume Kasuri production process
- ● Join online lectures before and after your stay
- ● English-speaking interpreters will help you communicate with the artisans
- ● Receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program
- Kazuo Sakata CEO Sakata Orimono 坂田織物
- Founded in 1948, Sakata Orimono is a Kurume Kasuri weaver with a workshop in the town of Hirokawa in the distsrict of Yame. In addition to creating traditional garments, CEO Kazuo Sakata works tirelessly to promote Kurume Kasuri. He has launched a private brand called Tsugu, and he also exhibits and sells his works overseas. The company began accepting international residencies in 2020, and they have hosted 5 artists and designers to date.
Kurume Kasuri: One of Japan’s three major kasuri
Kasuri is a type of fabric whose signature patterns are created by using pre-dyed yarn for either the warp, the weft, or both. This technique, which is said to have originated in India, spread throughout the world and was introduced to mainland Japan from Okinawa. The three major kasuri production centers in Japan were Hiroshima and Okayama (Bingo Kasuri), Ehime (Iyo Kasuri), and Fukuoka (Kurume Kasuri), but Bingo Kasuri producers shifted to using canvas and denim, and Iyo Kasuri producers shifted to making towels. Although there are fewer than 20 workshops left, the only region where there is still a collection of dedicated kasuri weavers is Kurume in the Chikugo region of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Sakata Orimono: In pursuit of various forms of expression
There are two styles of Kurume Kasuri – fabrics produced using the traditional indigo-dyed, hand-woven technique and colorful fabrics produced using chemical dyes and power looms. Each style has its own distinct charm. While many weavers only focus on one style, Sakata Orimono, the partner for this program, is a unique weaving workshop that produces both indigo-dyed, hand-woven fabrics and chemically dyed, machine-woven fabrics.
Learn all about Kurume Kasuri
During this program, you will spend 35 days at the Sakata Orimono workshop making a Kurume Kasuri textile piece based on your own design. You will learn about most of the major processes involving in Kurume Kasuri including yarn-tying, indigo dyeing, and weaving. Unlike the 15-day program, this is a full-fledged program in which you will try your hand at everything from designing a pattern, making the seed yarn, tying and untying yarn, indigo dyeing, and weaving. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Experience the traditional culture of the region
During your stay, you can experience traditional culture by visiting the Hakata Gion Yamakasa in Fukuoka, a festival with close ties to Kurume Kasuri, and by trying on a kasuri yukata. What’s more, southern Fukuoka Prefecture, where Sakata Orimono is located, is known for its green tea cultivation and a wide variety of handicrafts including Japanese washi paper, lanterns, lacquerware, bamboo crafts, and woodworking. On your free days, you can visit green tea plantations or take an optional tour to visit other kinds of textile workshops.
Orige: A well-kept guest house equipped with a kitchen
During the program, you will stay at Orige, a guest house that is about a 6 to 7-minute bicycle ride from Sakata Orimono. Orige is a long-stay accommodation facility with single bedrooms, a spacious shared kitchen, and a washing machine. The clean, bright atmosphere is popular with many guests. Rental bicycles are available for commuting between Orige and Sakata Orimono. A nearby supermarket and restaurants are also within cycling distance.
| Tour Code | GFHK08 |
|---|---|
| Dates | ● Preliminary Lecture: Early June
● On-Site Creation: Late June to Late July
● Post Lecture: August
|
| Duration | 35 Days |
| Departure Point / Return Point | Guesthouse Orige |
| Schedule | [Pre-Arrival Online Lectures]
[Stay at Sakata Orimono] (35 days) – Accommodation: All nights will be at Guesthouse Orige. – Special Activities:
[Post-Return Online Lecture] |
| Workshop for Your Stay |
|
| Price | ¥973,000（tax included） |
| Included in the Price | Tuition fees, material costs, accommodation fees, interpreter fees (limited to those related to the program), bicycle rental fees (assuming transportation between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono by bicycle), expenses related to the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival visit, and expenses for the kimono dressing experience. |
| Not Included in the Price | Travel expenses, transportation costs, meals, shipping fees for international delivery, travel insurance, and any other items not listed above. Optional Add-On: A craft tour to visit other Kurume Kasuri weavers or nearby workshops for Yame lanterns, Yame washi paper, wooden barrels, incense, and more (additional fees apply). |
| Language | Japanese/English |
| Minimum Participants | 2 *If you wish to participate alone, the cost will be ¥1,430,000 per person. |
| Maximum Participants | 3 |
| Reservation Deadline | March 31, 2025 |
| Number of Meals | Breakfast: 0 times, Lunch: 0 times, Dinner: 0 times |
| Number of Nights | 34 nights |
| Accommodation | Guesthouse Orige |
| Mode of Transportation | We provide bicycles (cross bikes) as a means of transportation between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono. The bicycles can be used throughout your stay for traveling between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono. If you prefer a different mode of transportation, please let us know in advance. |
| Tour Escort | None |
| Payment Method | Payment via the application form: pre-authorized card payment (VISA, MasterCard, Amex, JCB), bank transfer, or TransferWise. |
| Notes |
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| Cancellation Policy | The customer may cancel the tour contract by paying the cancellation fee outlined below to the Company. The date of cancellation of the tour contract is based on when the customer submits a cancellation request during the Company’s days and hours of operation. Any requests made outside of these times will be considered as having been submitted on the next business day.
Timing of Cancellation and Cancellation Fee From the day before the start of the tour (online lecture)
|
Travel Planning: Implementation
- UNA Laboratories Inc. (Fukuoka Prefectural Governor Registration #2-951)
- 3-12-22-302 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0022
- TEL: 092-982-7956E-MAIL: tour@unalabs.jp
- Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors:
Aya Tamura, Noriko Yahata, Rei Watanabe - Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays) - *Requests received outside of business hours will be processed the following business day.
- *Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors are responsible for transactions held at the sales office that processes customers’ travel. Please do not hesitate to contact the aforementioned Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors with any questions or concerns regarding the travel contract.
Tour Information
- Available Dates
- June, 2025 – August, 2025
- Duration
- 35 days
- Recommended Age
- 18 years old and above
- Price
- 973,000yen (tax included)