To my surprise, the Nakai/Ochiai area is one of the centers of traditional dyeing industry in Japan where fine craftsmanship still survives in the middle of Tokyo.
Until the 1960’s, they washed newly dyed long clothes in the small river running through the towns.
I live in Shinjuku but didn’t know about this traditional craftsmanship. How nice if we could newly find something old & precious around us like this.
In spite of a cold rain, we enjoyed exploring the small town, visiting some ateliers & shops along the river and joining a special workshop – we dyed ”Tenugui; Japanese towel” by ourselves!
We had chances to watch some craftsmen dying in various ways just in front of us and talk with them closely. Their stories were very impressive and their fine works were so fascinated.
Also we enjoyed to see some of the shops were decorated with specially produced “Noren – the dyed small curtain-like fabric that you often see hanging in front of the entrances to Japanese houses, restaurants & shops selling traditional goods”.
We watched many ladies wearing a beautiful kimono in a stylish way and they looked so cool! I love the modern kimono style in Taisho/early Showa period a lot.
3月頭に、「染の小道」というイベントに参加。
ご近所でもある新宿区の中井／落合エリアが染物の伝統の技が今も息づく街として有名だとは知りませんでした。
60年代迄は、街の真ん中を走る川で染めた生地を実際洗い流していたそうです。
古の伝統が、実は身近な小さな街に生き続けていることを知るって、とても素敵な体験。
寒い雨降りではありましたが、小さな川沿いのお店やアトリエを探索、てぬぐいの絞り染め体験、と大いに楽しみました！
実際、目の前でいろいろな技法で染物をされる職人さん達の技を拝見してお話しする機会もあったのですが、お話もとても興味深く、その技も本当に素晴らしいものでした。
毎年「染の小道」用に特別に染めて制作されるという“のれん”が店先や軒先を飾ってあるのも楽しかったです。
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