In partnership with NHK World, Japan House London presents a series of documentary screenings exploring the beauty and diversity of Japanese textiles.
Each booking slot includes a screening of the documentaries The Lost Textile of Ryukyu and Tango Chirimen: The Finest Texture in Silk separated by a 7-minute interval.
About The Lost Textile of Ryukyu
Duration: 49 min
The Ryukyu Kingdom (15th to 19th centuries CE) occupied the tropical island chain to the southwest of mainland Japan. Today, these islands make up Okinawa Prefecture. The kingdom flourished through international trade, especially with China, and developed a distinct culture known for its beautifully dyed and woven textiles. While craftspeople made painstaking efforts to revive some of these traditions after they were lost in World War II, one particularly exquisite type of fabric called ton-byan remains a mystery. Join leading Japanese textile designer Sudō Reiko as she travels around Okinawa, searching for the secrets of this lost craft.
About Tango Chirimen: The Finest Texture in Silk Crepe (Core Kyoto)
Duration: 28 min
The Tango region, located on the northern coast of Kyoto Prefecture, is Japan’s largest producer of chirimen, a supple silk textile which accounts for 60% of all kimono fabric. The elegantly crimped texture of chirimen makes it easy to dye; however, with the proliferation of new styles of clothing and the subsequent decrease in demand for kimono, production has dropped to 3% of the industry’s heyday. The COVID-19 pandemic was an additional blow. Today young artisans are searching for new ways to use their experience and knowledge to produce luxury silks. Discover how this 300-year-old textile has evolved and its ties with Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto.
Visiting Japan House London
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