Japan House is pleased to host an aizome (indigo dyeing) workshop featuring Fukushima artist Hirohisa Saito as part of the Kogei: Traditional Arts and Crafts project. Guests will learn about the aizome craft process and history, then they can learn to stencil dye a Japanese paper fan to take home!
Aizome is a traditional dyeing technique that uses indigo plants to color fabrics a deep blue (indigo) hue. In Fukushima Prefecture, indigo production thrived in areas such as Aizubange Town and Minamiaizu Town, reaching its peak during the Meiji era (around 1900). Even today, traditional indigo dyeing techniques are preserved in Minamiaizu and other parts of the region. One notable example of Aizome’s cultural significance is its connection to local festivals. The Tajima Gion Festival, held in Minamiaizu, features traditional men's attire (asa-kamishimo, hemp ceremonial robes) dyed using locally produced indigo by skilled artisans. This highlights the deep ties between indigo dyeing and regional traditions. Additionally, stencil dyeing techniques using katagami (dye paper stencils) were widely practiced, allowing artisans to create intricate fabric patterns. In the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, a unique style of stencil known as Aizugata was developed and produced from the Edo period to the early Showa era. Today, Aizugata remains a cherished design, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
Reservations are required, no walk-ins or observers will be allowed due to limited space inside and the hands-on nature of the workshop. Guests will be provided with all supplies but are asked to wear clothing that they don't mind getting ink on.
________
Hirohisa Saito is a printmaker and aizome (Japanese indigo dyeing) artist with nearly 40 years of experience in the field. He graduated from Nihon University College of Art in 1981 and completed additional studies at Nihon University College of Art's Art Research Institute in 1983. In 1985, he established Saito Graphic Arts. Saito spent two years in Los Angeles from 1989 as an Overseas Research Fellow for the Agency for Cultural Affairs to study screen printing. His works have been featured in solo exhibitions at various galleries and received various awards. As an educator, he is a part-time lecturer at Koriyama Women's University and a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts. He is a Member of the Saitama Prefecture Art Association, Vice President of the Saitama Prefecture Printmakers’ Association, and Auditor of the Fukushima Watercolor Painting Association.
________
Kogei (工芸) translates to traditional arts and crafts. Arts and crafts include disciplines such as ceramics, textiles, woodworking, lacquerware, papermaking, and other means of artistic expression that involve considerable understanding of traditional methods and techniques. Artisans hone their skills to create objects that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Kogei artists and their produced objects are valued for their rich history that reflect intangible cultural heritage spanning hundreds of years, as techniques and processes are passed down from generation to generation. A category of kogei is mingei, (民芸), which translates to “folk crafts,” and is formed from minshu (民衆), meaning common people, and kogei (工芸). Art critic and philosopher Soetsu Yanagi created this term and the mingei movement in the 1920/30s to distinguish the value of everyday items made for ordinary use for the common person.
The Kogei exhibition and programming are supported by the Japan Foundation New York through the U.S.-Japan Community Grassroots Exchange Program. Japan House is proud to highlight the traditional arts and crafts of Fukushima and feature the stories of Fukushima. This program is also partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
