Vision

Yuzen, a 400-year-old dyeing and weaving technique, is a labor-intensive and unique technique. Using small brushes, color is applied by hand to fabric, creating solid colors, gradations, or intricate motifs. The resulting fabrics, expressing a rich artistic quality, are used for luxury kimonos and other items. Unfortunately, the use of traditional natural dyes in Yuzen has drastically declined since the introduction of European chemical dyes in the late 1800s. Kaga Yuzen artist Hisatsugu has developed a natural dye that can be hand-painted at room temperature and dyed in 15 seconds. By returning to the culture of natural dyes that has existed in Japan for hundreds of years, he aims to transform Kanazawa's Kaga Yuzen, which is currently dominated by chemical dyes, into natural dyes, while also infusing color with meaning and fostering the local charm and cultural value. Hisatsugu's new dye offers hope for the rapidly disappearing Yuzen dyeing culture.