[Traditional Crafts] Open Factory — Visit the Workshops Where Crafts are Produced

About Open Factory

Open Factory is an initiative under which production sites that are normally closed to the public are opened up so that visitors can experience artisans’ skills and the appeal of craftsmanship through workshop tours and hands-on activities.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, Open Factory programs are offered throughout the year in regions known for traditional crafts. By allowing visitors to tour workshops, the entire production area works together to communicate and share its appeal.
We invite you to visit these production areas and witness the skills and dedication of the artisans firsthand.

About Kurume Kasuri

Kurume Kasuri is one of Fukuoka Prefecture’s preeminent traditional crafts.
Kurume Kasuri is an ikat textile has been passed down for more than 200 years in the Chikugo region in southern Fukuoka Prefecture. It is produced by going through more than 30 processes, including thread-tying, dyeing, and weaving.
In recent years, more weaving workshops in the region have begun opening their doors to the public, allowing visitors to experience the process firsthand. Watching threads take on color and gradually become woven textiles up close offers not only a sightseeing experience, but also an opportunity to gain insight into the culture behind the craft.
Even among Kurume Kasuri weavers, some workshops hand-weave threads dyed with indigo, while others use power looms to weave threads dyed with chemical dyes. In this way, the approach to craftsmanship and the character of the work differ from workshop to workshop. For this feature, we visited six workshops and spoke with the people working there.

Kurume Kasuri

Kurumekasuri Open Factory Spot

Aizome Kasuri Kobo Takeshi Yamamura

Aizome Kasuri Kobo Takeshi Yamamura is a family-owned workshop run by a family of three. While preserving traditional indigo dyeing and hand-weaving techniques, they produce highly artistic kasuri featuring bold geometric patterns. Adorned with seasonal flowers, the workshop offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and a visit here is like stepping into someone’s home.

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Ikeda Kasuri Textile

keda Kasuri Textile is the largest kasuri workshop that carries on the traditions of indigo dyeing and hand weaving. Visitors can observe many stages of production, including design, warp thread adjustment, dyeing, and weaving. The dyeing workshop lined with indigo vats and the weaving area where artisans work rhythmically at their looms are particularly impressive.

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Sakata Orimono

Sakata Orimono is a rarity among workshops in that it produces both indigo-dyed hand-woven fabrics and chemically dyed machine-woven fabrics. The tour begins with an introduction to ikat textiles from around the world, making it the ideal place to gain a full understanding of Kurume Kasuri. The workshop also runs Sakata Café, a café and shop with a kasuri motif.

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Shimogawa Orimono

This workshop specializes in chemical dyeing and machine weaving. The third-generation owner, Kyozo Shimogawa, actively collaborates with artists and designers from Japan and around the world, including Finland, Sweden, and France, and these international initiatives are also introduced during the workshop tour.

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Nomura Orimono

From classic patterns to new designs, this authentic workshop produces high-precision kasuri using chemically dyed threads and machine weaving. At this long-standing workshop, visitors are guided through the various stages of Kurume Kasuri production, including thread dyeing, warp thread adjustment, and weaving.

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Marugame Ikat Textile

This workshop actively creates original patterns with a pop aesthetic using chemically dyed threads and machine weaving. In addition to weaving kasuri fabric, they also produce clothing and accessories. At their shop Tateyoko Store + Lab, visitors can purchase a wide range of Kurume Kasuri products.

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Tour reservations and inquiries

Please be sure to reserve your workshop tour in advance. Since each workshop has its own unique features and attractions, we recommend visiting several workshops to experience the full diversity of Kurume Kasuri.

[Inquiries]
UNA Laboratories Inc.
Mail：tour@unalabs.jp