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~ Past Event ~
2010 Information

The 13th Annual Aki Matsuri
September 11 & 12, 2010 at the Bellevue College Main Campus

2010 Featured Art: Kimono
Our "Japan Guest Program" brought the following arts and guests from Japan representing the Fine Art of "kimono" including "Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen (Edo Yuzen)" from Tokyo.



Kimono

From the formal black silk kimono bearing family crests to the casual cotton yukata, kimono symbolizes both the durability and "softer side" of Japanese culture. While no longer everyday wear for most Japanese, kimono are the standard costume for people engaged in the traditional professions and arts. They also are worn proudly for special holidays and such personal celebrations as graduations and weddings. Pure visual delights in Japan are throngs of people in kimono at shrine festivals, or groups of girls in lovely kimono headed for graduation parties, or small children dressed in colorful kimono at shrines with their parents to celebrate the Shichi-Go-San festival (November15).
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Two specialists from "Uchida no Kimono" Shop located in Mejiro area in Tokyo attended the Aki Matsuri to educate the matsuri visitor about kimono. There were demonstrations, workshops, and a display of the exquisite Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen (Edo Yuzen) by a master craft person, Mr. Osamu Hyodo.



(Photos courtesy of Mr. Osamu Hyodo)

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Uchida no Kimono
 


"Uchida no Kimono" is a Kimono Shop specializing in high-end kimono, obi, and kimono accompaniments. The shop was opened in 1975 by the president, Mr. Sueo Uchida whose father, the late Mr. Syuichi Uchida, was recognized as an intangible cultural asset designated by the Yamanashi Prefecture in the field of Edo Komon (Tokyo Fine-Pattern Dyeing).

"Uchida no Kimono" was incorporated in 1979, and moved to the current Mejiro location in 1988. In 2004, the shop was expanded and remodeled. In 2010, they are celebrating its 35th anniversary and many events are planned. As a part, Mr. Uchida's wife (Isuzu Uchida) and his son (Hideki Uchida) will attend 2010 Aki Matsuri and introduce wonderful "Kimono" culture to matsuri visitors.

Ms. Isuzu Uchida

She was born in Yamanashi Prefecture.

After graduating from Faculty of Literature in Rikkyo University, she joined Japan Airlines. She left Japan Airlines in 1974 to marry Mr. Sueo Uchida. She then studied at Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Institute and graduated from its Instructor's course.

Currently, she is in charge of clerical work at "Uchida no Kimono" and also conducts Kitsuke (kimono dressing) classes.
Isuzu Uchida
 
Mr. Hideki Uchida

He was born in Toshima-ku, Tokyo.

After graduating from the School of Commerce at Meiji University, he joined the Kyoei Fire and Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.

In 2006, he left this job and started working in "Uchida no Kimono".

As a second generation of "Uchida no Kimono", he is involved in business activities as well as being in charge of planning and conducting Kimono exhibits, seminars, and study tours.
Hideki Uchida

(Photos courtesy of Uchida no kimono)

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Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen (Edo Yuzen)

What is Yuzen zome?

Yuzen-zome (Yuzen dyeing) is one of the most typical dyeing methods developed during the Edo era (1600-1868) and continues to be used to make high-end kimono and obi. Today there are three famous centers of Yuzen zome: Tokyo (Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen), Kanazawa (Kaga Yuzen), and Kyoto (Kyo Yuzen).



What is Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen?

Yuzen-zome techniques originated in Kyoto and were brought to Edo (now Tokyo), the capital of the Tokugawa Shoguns around the mid-Edo era. At that time, Edo was the center of political power of the Shogunate, and the culture & economy flourished in this, one of the world's largest metropolis. As merchants (shonin) and town's folk (chonin) became economically stronger during the mid to late Edo era, a grand chonin culture evolved. Edo Yuzen was developed under such circumstances and brought forth the chic culture of the Edo era to modern day Japan. Its metropolitan sophisticated patterns and color scheme are highly appraised.

Edo Yuzen was acclaimed as a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1980, and its official name became Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen.

Within the silk dyeing profession of Japan, Edo Tegaki Yuzen artisans are specialists in designs made entirely by hand. The many painstaking steps needed to produce each of these gems of fabric art make fine designs and sharp detailing possible, setting them far apart from commonly seen mass-produced patterns. Each design is carefully hand painted to become a unique work of fabric art.

Basic Steps to accomplish Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen are:
  1. Design

    2.
  2. Use a tracing fluid from the "tsuyu kusa" plant to outline the design on the white silk fabric.

    3.
  3. Place the fine line of Nori paste on the outlines and lines between the patterns as borders to keep dyes from bleeding into each other. Where Nori paste was placed remains un-dyed.

  4. Cover the fabric surface with Gojiru (soybean milk) or Mafunori (sea kelp paste) to enhance dyeing and to ensure an even fabric dyeing
  5. Hand-Paint dyes within the outlines created in step 3 by brush.

    6.
  6. Cover these newly dyed areas/patterns in step 5 with Nori paste and Nuka (rice bran) for masking.

    7.
  7. Apply the background dyes.

  8. Fix the colors by steaming and then rinse the fabric thoroughly in running water to remove the excess dyes and Nori paste.
  9. Steam to fix distortion and give the fabric a fixed width and length.
  10. Re-touch the patterns and complete the fabric design with gold/silver leaf and thread embroidery.

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Mr. Osamu Hyodo
 
The Aki Matsuri is proud and honored to have presented the exhibit and demonstration on Tokyo Tegaki Yuzen. Superlative examples of Japanese aesthetic values are demonstrated by the government* designated master craft person, Mr. Osamu Hyodo from Tokyo, Japan.



Profile of Mr. Osamu Hyodo

  Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
1976 Graduated from Tokyo Senshoku Bijyutsu Gakuin (Tokyo Senshoku Art Professional Training College).
1976 Accepted into the 13th Nihon Kogeikai Nihon Senshokuten (Japan Dyed and Woven Textile Exhibit by Japan Craft Association)
Accepted into the 1st Nihon Kimono Senshoku Kogeikai Shinjin Senshokuen (New Comers' Dyed and Woven Textile Exhibit by Japan Kimono Dyeing and Weaving Craft Association).
1990 Participated in "Japan Kimono Festival in Colorado by Japan Kimono Culture Promotion Association" held in Denver, Colorado.
1991 Accepted into the 31st Nihon Kogeikai Tokyo Shibu Dento Kogei Shinsakuten (Traditional Craft New Work Exhibit by Japan Craft Association Tokyo branch).
1992 Held Solo Show at Art Space 17.
1993 Won prize at the 31st Sengeiten (Dyed Craft Exhibit).
Held the 3rd Kimono Show at the Gallery Umeda.
1994 Won prize at the 32nd Sengeiten.
Accepted into the 13th Silk Sensyoku Sakuhinten (Silk Dyed and Woven Work Exhibit).
1995 Won prize at the 33rd Sengeiten.
1996 Won President Award of Zen Nippon Tegaki Sensyoku Kogei Rengo-kai at the 34th Sengeiten.
2001 Accredited as Master Craft Person by *Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Katsushika-ward.
 
 

(Photos courtesy of Mr. Osamu Hyodo)
 
 
 
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