Japan Unlocked

Dyed Fabrics

14 government-designated crafts in this category.

Tokyo Chusens染 Dyeing
東京本染注染
📍 Tokyo (東京都)

Traditional pour-dye technique from Tokyo used to dye cotton tenugui and yukata fabric in vivid patterns, with bold colors penetrating both sides of the cloth simultaneously.

Tokyo Solid Color Dyeing
東京無地染
📍 Tokyo (東京都)

Refined solid-color fabric dyeing from Tokyo used to create perfectly even, deep hues on kimono cloth. Valued for its pure tone quality and technical precision.

Tokyo Komon Fine-Pattern Dyeing
東京染小紋
📍 Tokyo (東京都)

Intricate stencil-dyed kimono fabric from Tokyo with thousands of tiny patterns per square inch, originally worn by samurai as a subtle mark of refinement and status.

Tokyo Hand-Painted Yuzen
東京手描友禅
📍 Tokyo (東京都)

Richly detailed hand-painted kimono fabric from Tokyo using resist-paste and natural dyes. Blends Kyoto tradition with a bolder, Edo-period aesthetic unique to Tokyo.

Kaga Yuzen Silk Dyeing
加賀友禅
📍 Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県)

Kanazawa's signature silk painting tradition using five earthy colors and a distinctive shading technique to create lush botanical and figural kimono designs.

Nagoya Yuzen Dyeing
名古屋友禅
📍 Aichi Prefecture (愛知県)

Elegant hand-dyed kimono fabric from Nagoya, using the yuzen technique to create vivid, painterly floral and landscape motifs on fine silk cloth.

Nagoya Kuromontsuki Black Dyeing
名古屋黒紋付染
📍 Aichi Prefecture (愛知県)

Masterful black formal kimono dyeing from Nagoya, producing the deep, lustrous black used for haori and kimono worn at ceremonial occasions across Japan.

Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Tie-Dye
有松・鳴海絞
📍 Aichi Prefecture (愛知県)

Famous Japanese resist-dyeing from Nagoya's Arimatsu district, producing stunning geometric patterns through intricate hand-folding and binding techniques on fabric.

Kyoto Kanoko Shibori Tie-Dye
京鹿の子絞
📍 京都 (京都)

Intricate hand-tied resist dyeing from Kyoto, creating delicate spotted patterns on silk kimono. Each tiny knot is tied by hand, making every piece a labor of artistry.

Kyo Yuzen Dyeing
京友禅
📍 京都 (京都)

The pinnacle of Japanese textile art, Kyoto Yuzen uses hand-painted resist dyeing to create vivid floral and landscape designs on silk kimono of breathtaking beauty.

Kyoto Komon Dyeing
京小紋
📍 京都 (京都)

A refined Kyoto dyeing tradition featuring intricate small-pattern designs on kimono fabric. Each bolt is hand-stenciled with delicate repeating motifs unique to the ancient capital.

Kyoto Black Formal Dyeing
京黒紋付染
📍 京都 (京都)

Kyoto's prestigious craft of dyeing ceremonial kimono in deep, flawless black using a centuries-old technique. The rich matte finish symbolizes dignity and is worn at Japan's most formal occasions.

Naniwa Hand-Dyeing
浪華本染め
📍 Osaka Prefecture (大阪府)

A traditional Osaka dyeing craft producing hand-dyed tenugui towels and yukata cotton with bold, vivid patterns. Rooted in Sakai and Kashiwara's merchant culture, it captures the lively spirit of old Osaka.

Ryukyu Bingata Dyeing
琉球びんがた
📍 Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県)

Ryukyu Bingata from Okinawa is a vivid stencil-dyed textile tradition of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Its bold tropical motifs and brilliant colors remain iconic Japanese craft.