Industry (Craft)

Bingo Kasuri (Shinichi in Ashina district)

Weaving of Kasuri cloth (cloth with splashed pattern) started during the Edo period, when cotton came into general use and the population could make for the first time dyed woven clothes.
This led to an association between cotton and Kasuri. This Kasuri has long been cherished by many people. Shinichi in Ashina district is still today the mainstay of the Bingo Kasuri.
Kyuzaburo Tomita devised the Manbei Nakataya technique called "Kishi Shibori" for weaving light yellow Kasuri in silk cloth. Using hand drawn threads he wrapped the longitudinal threads partially with bamboo bark prior to the dyeing and thus created the Bingo Kasuri.
These Bingo Kasuri clothes have very simple patterns and are of a unique beauty.

During the early Meiji period these products were sold in all Japan and thus spread the fame of "Bingo Kasuri" throughout the country.
Moreover, with two other forms of Kasuri, the Iyo-Kasuri and Kurume-Kasuri, the Bingo-Kasuri constitutes what has become known as the three most "great" nationwide acknowledged Kasuri forms.
Demand has been decreasing with modern conceptual changes pertaining clothing and a switch toward synthetic materials, but through development of new articles the industry is going to enter the apparel market.
In 1994 it has been designated a traditional craft of Hiroshima Prefecture.

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