Kurume Kasuri
About Kurumekasuri
It has a simple beauty and
astringent taste.
Kurume Kasuri was invented by a 12 or 3 year old man named Den Inoue at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868), and since that time it has been widely used as clothing by the common people.
Since that time, it has been widely used as a garment by the common people. It is one of the most famous cotton woven fabrics in Japan, especially in the Chikugo region of present-day Fukuoka Prefecture (the former Kurume domain).
The simple beauty and austere taste expressed in the white and navy blue of Kurume Kasuri, along with its strength, has endeared it to people as a representative of navy blue kasuri.
Features of Kurume Kasuri
Durability and
a wide variety of patterns.
Kurume Kasuri, a nationally designated important intangible cultural property, is a cotton weave made by hand using arasou, natural indigo dyeing, and hand looms. The appeal of Kurume Kasuri is its excellent durability and wide variety of patterns, including geometric patterns, medium patterns with floral patterns, and large patterns such as checkered patterns.
In the past, small patterns were used for men’s wear, medium patterns with floral patterns were used for women’s wear, and especially large patterns were used for bedding, but now they are used for all purposes.
In addition, each workshop produces Kurume Kasuri with different patterns.
Future of Kurume Kasuri
Artifact of the
Common People
Originally born from a nameless farming family, Kurume Kasuri is a work of art for the common people that has continued to support a part of Japan’s dyeing and weaving culture with the silent help of tradition.
Today, the demand for Kurume Kasuri is dwindling and the production of Kurume Kasuri is declining as the number of businesses closing due to a lack of successors continues to increase.
Amidst these circumstances, Kurume Kasuri, using traditional techniques, continues to produce the navy blue color and scent, the wonderful harmony of figurative and abstract, and the charm that can only be created by hand using techniques and processes that are close to nature and do not use chemical dyes.
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