Banana fiber cloth was already being made around the 13th century, but it became popular much later. In the old days, banana trees were planted in gardens and fields, and the family women wove it into fabric for home use. Silk and cotton became more readily available during the 19th century but people still enjoyed wearing banana fiber cloth. Kijoka no Bashofu, which carries on these traditions, was designated as a cultural property by Okinawa Prefecture in 1972. Two years later in 1974 it was made an important intangible cultural property country of Japan.

Woven from fibers taken from the banana tree, banana fiber cloth is highly representative of Okinawan weaving. It was very popular for making a piece of summer-weight formal dress called kamishimo in the Edo era (1600-1868). Light and comfortable, it is still popular with people today for kimonos in the height of summer. But kimonos are not its only use—the engaging fabric is made into obi sashes, fine cushion covers, neckties, bags, table centers and split entryway curtains (noren).