TASK: The target is a series of activities leading to a product. Basic: Describe any of the activities and/or the product Intermediate: Describe more of the activities. Advanced: Using a timeline, put the activies you have described into proper order and find the location on the dowsing map. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/06/16/ojiya-chijimi-the-amazing-centuries-old-japanese-craft-that-bleaches-kimono-textiles-with-snow/ Ojiya Chijimi: the amazing centuries-old Japanese craft that bleaches kimono textiles with snow Oona McGeeyesterday Ojiya Chijimi These stunning images show how craftsmen keep their UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage alive during the coldest months of the year. Without snow there is no Ojiya Chijimi. It’s a fact that’s well-known in the Ojiya region of Niigata Prefecture, a place known for its wide, open fields and unusually heavy snowfall. There’s a rich cultural heritage here, and the community is dedicated to keeping it alive, especially when it comes to the local textile tradition of Ojiya Chijimi, which literally translates to “Ojiya Shrinkage”, the art of turning plant fibres into a distinct fabric with the help of sun and snow. Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 4.45.50 PM There are many painstaking steps involved in the traditional process, which involves hand-picking stalks of the ramie plant, extracting the fibres, fastening the threads together, and then hand weaving the fabric on a traditional ground loom. Spinning the thread tightly during the weaving process creates a distinctive crease called a “shibo”, which brings a smooth, cool feel to the fabric when worn. Once the cloth has been taken off the loom, it’s then washed in hot water and massaged with the feet. The last step in the process is to take the wet fabric outside, placing it on the snow for ten to twenty days, where it will be lightened by the elements. Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 4.46.22 PM The snow increases light reflection from the sun and accelerates ozone production, which helps to lighten the colours of the fabric. During this period, fields in the area look like beautiful outdoor art pieces, with long, colourful bolts of fabric standing out against the pure white snow. Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 5.25.57 PM While the tradition has a history which stems back to the 17th century, the fabrics made using this process are still popular today, with the light, cool material often used in summer kimono, cushion covers, and bedding. The craft is a perfect display of harmony between nature and the community, as the fabric born in winter brings its cooling touch to the locals even in the heat of the warm summer months. To see the hand-woven fabrics being laid out in the snow, check out the captivating videos below. HU78YTYFHHJ;HUOYTIUTITRIUYUYGUYGOUY We have to say, the process is as beautiful as the fashion items made with this cloth. We’re certainly glad the local cloth producers are keeping this UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage alive after all these centuries! And if you love anime as well as fashion, you may be interested to see some of the high-fashion designs that inspired Sailor Moon character outfits. They haven’t been granted UNESCO status yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they were one day! Source: Japaaan Top Image: Youtube/Chuoeigasha Screenshots: Youtube/Chuoeigasha, Youtube/PandaStudioNiigata --------------------------------------- http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/handcrft/ojiyachijimi.html Japan - the official guide ---------------- http://www.kimono.or.jp/dictionary/eng/echigojoufu.html 1. produced in Ojiya City, NIigata Prefecture. 2. Chracteristics: Hemp fabrics designated as " Important Intagible Cultural Property " also called " Echigo Chijimi ". Hand spun " Choma" (ramie, Bochmeria nipononivea ) are used as threads and they are woven in a traditional technique. When splashed patterns are woven, threads are manually dyed and woven into cloths. They are scrubbed in the water and trampled by feet so that " Shibo" (crimp ) are created. Then they are bleached on the snow. Only " Choma" produced in Fukushima Prefecture is used. 3. Uses: Summer kimono cloth, summer cushion cloth, bedding. 4. History: The hemp fabric has a long history as it had already been woven in the Jomon Period (ca. 10,000 BC-ca. 300 BC). In Echigo (Niigata) a historical document records that hemp cloths woven in Echigo were donated to the Imperial Court in the years 749-757. In the Kamakura and Muromachi Period (1333-1568) when cotton was not popular yet, common people used to wear clothes of hemp fabrics. The need for hemp fabrics decreased in the Edo Period when cotton became popular. However, Echigo flourished as the producer of " Echigo Jofu" high quality hemp fabrics due to its favorable climate for growing hemp. "Ojiya Chijimi" (crepe,) originated around 1670 when Masatoshi Hori moved from Akashi ( Hyogo Prefecture) to Ojiya and applied the technique of Akashi Chijimi to Echigo Jofu and produced hemp crepe. " Ojiya Chijimi " was improved, then became popular not only among the feudal lords but also among the common people in Edo , Kyoto and Osaka. In 1785, production of Echigo Jofu and Ojiya Chijimi reached its height. Since then, however, production decreased due to changes in living modes. Both of them are designated as "Intangible Cultural Property". In Jofu, both warf and weft are of the same threads but in Chijimi, tightly twisted threads are used as weft. Akashi Chijimi are silk fabrics invented in Akashi and used for high quality summer cloths. The technique reached Niigata Prefecture via Nishijin ( Kyoto ). =========== http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2mb097 Video of the entire cloth making process (4 minutes 12 seconds)