In Japan, since the Jomon and Yayoi periods, people have been making thread from fibers extracted from plants that grow wild in the mountains and fields, such as linden, paper mulberry, elm, wisteria, kudzu, and ramie, and weaving these fibers into cloth for personal use, clothing, and ornaments.
During the Meiji era, the development of spinning technology led to the widespread use of cotton products, causing production to decline in many regions. However, in this region, it continued to be used for a long time as casual wear and work clothes for farming, as well as being used for fishing nets, straining cloths, bed linens, and storage bags. Subsequently, with the development of the Japanese economy and the modernization of lifestyles, demand rapidly declined in these regions as well, and production was limited to small-scale personal use. However, since the latter half of the Showa era, production activities have been expanding due to regional revitalization movements centered on these traditional crafts and the growing demand for simple crafts.
| Craft item name | UETSU Shinafu (Bark Fiber Textiles) |
|---|---|
| Reading | Uetsushinafu |
| Classification of crafts | fabric |
| Main Products | Obi (sash), accessories |
| Main manufacturing area | Tsuruoka City, Niigata Prefecture / Murakami City |
| Designated date | September 22, 2005 |
UETSU Shinafu (Bark Fiber Textiles) promotion council
〒999-7315
222 Mukai, Sekikawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
Inside Sekikawa Shina Weaving Center
TEL: 0235-47-2502
FAX: 0235-47-2333
This fabric is made from bast fibers extracted from the bark of linden trees (Tilia japonica, Tilia cordata, or Tilia maximowicziana) that grow in the mountainous regions of the Uetsu area. The yarn is spun from these fibers and woven into cloth. In Japan, it has been used for clothing and ornaments since the Jomon and Yayoi periods, and today it is still produced in the Sekikawa district of Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and Yamakita Town, Iwafune District, Niigata Prefecture. Because the raw material is tree bark fiber, the texture is rough, but it is characterized by its coarse feel and calm texture, and is processed not only into obi fabric but also into many everyday items such as bags and hats.
The materials used, Tilia japonica, Tilia maximowicziana, or Tilia japonica, are deciduous trees belonging to the Tilia genus of the Tiliaceae family. They grow abundantly in the mountains and fields along the Sea of Japan and in the Tohoku region, and are called by various names depending on the region, such as Mada, Manda, Mouda, and Moada. The yarn is made by spinning and twisting fibers extracted from the bark of these trees, and then weaving this yarn on a handloom or a loom. Because it is made from bark fibers, it cannot be mechanized and still relies on manual labor.
Please see here for information on traditional craftspeople.
