Craft · No. 17
No. 17織物
Tokamachi Akashi Chijimi
十日町明石ちぢみ
tokamachi akashi chijimi · 新潟県
Tokamachi Akashi Chijimi is a fine silk crepe textile produced in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture. Distinguished by its characteristic puckered texture (shibu) created with highly twisted yarns and its semi-transparent, airy drape, it is prized as a premium summer kimono fabric.
- Origin
- 新潟県
- Category
- 織物
- Materials
- Silk
- Designation
- Nat'l Traditional Craft
No. IHistory
The Tokamachi region of Niigata has a long history of textile production rooted in the tradition of Echigo linen weaving. Akashi Chijimi is said to ha…
No. IIMaterials
The primary material is raw silk (kiito). Highly twisted crepe yarns — spun with far greater torsion than standard thread — are used as the weft, and…
No. IIITechniques
The most critical technical step is "kyōnen" — applying an exceptionally high degree of twist to the silk weft yarns before weaving. These twisted thr…
No. IVClimate
Tokamachi is one of Japan's heaviest snowfall regions, and its high winter humidity creates favorable conditions for yarn twisting and warping. The lo…
