What? It’s made of bananas? Bashofu is a magic cloth that keeps you cool in summer
In Okinawa, women used to weave cloth by hand from a plant called “itobasho,” which was cultivated in each household, and made into kimonos.
However, after World War II, this traditional technique was lost along with modernization.
At that time, Toshiko Taira, who later became a living national treasure, rose to the occasion.
Toshiko, who studied weaving in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, famous for its spinning, worked with the local people in her hometown of Kinyoka, Ogimi Village, to revive the art, and finally revived the basho cloth.
Today, in Kinyoka, the whole community is still involved in the production of bashofu, using the Ogimi Village Bashofu Hall as a stage for their activities.
Making cloth from bananas
Bashofu is a fabric made from a plant called Itobasho. The word “basho” actually means banana, and in English, basho cloth is called banana fabric.
The banana does not grow in the form of edible fruit, but rather in the form of fibrous stems.
The fibers are then loosened and tied one by one by hand to make long threads.
The threads are dyed with natural dyes such as Ryukyu indigo and Fukugi and then woven into cloth using the kasuri technique.
Perfect for Okinawa’s climate!
Bashofu is characterized by its thinness, lightness, and ability to absorb perspiration and allow the wind to blow through it.
Therefore, it always feels dry and does not stick to the skin, making it ideal for Okinawa’s hot and humid climate.
It is also perfect for the hot and humid Japanese summer.
During the Ryukyu Dynasty, it was presented to Ieyasu Tokugawa.
In the Edo period, when there were no air conditioners, Ieyasu must have been very happy to receive a basho cloth that would make him feel comfortable during the hot summer.
Bashofu is a miraculous cloth created by the nature of Okinawa and its people.
Let’s go to Kinyoka Bashofu Hall!
The ground floor of the Kinyoka Bashofu Museum is a museum where visitors can learn about the history and characteristics of Bashofu through exhibits and video materials.
Various goods made of Bashofu are also available for purchase, making it a perfect souvenir.
On the second floor, visitors can observe the process of making Bashofu, and Toshiko Taira, who is now 100 years old, is still working there.
She works with great care and delicacy, so be careful not to get in the way of her work.
