Which plant species is traditionally cultivated in Japan to produce
Chapter 1

Aizome and the deep secrets of Japanese indigo

Chapter 2

Sashiko and stitching strength from scraps

Chapter 3

Furoshiki and the origami of wrapping

Chapter 4

Fukuro toji and the art of the bound book

Chapter 5

Japanese denim and the vintage obsession

YOUR GOAL

Master of How Japan mends wraps and dyes the world

Ch 1 · Aizome and the deep secrets of Japanese indigo
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매운김치 Traditional samurai armor and the lucky properties of indigo dye

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매운김치 Japan Blue

Japan Blue, Japan Blue, Got the whole wide world loving Japan Blue!

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Sustaining something vibrant requires daily care for the living forces behind it.

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매운김치 Artisans compost Japanese indigo leaves to make a natural blue dye.

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The slow-cooked leaves of the indigo plant

매운김치 Weekly watering and turning generates microbial heat up to 60 degrees Celsius to concentrate the plant's natural blue pigment.

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Samurai armor and the lucky winning blue

매운김치 The natural herb in the dye protected wounds from infection and repelled insects

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Little Indigo Pocket Book
BETA

매운김치 Dye fabrics and stitch patterns to master the ancient art of Japanese indigo textiles.

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Fun Fact

Indigo scent: Freshly prepared natural aizome dye vats have a distinct, pungent herbal smell because they are actively fermenting living organisms.

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Glossary
sukumo (noun)
A traditional Japanese dyestuff made from composted and fermented indigo leaves. In Tokushima, master artisans ferment the leaves for one hundred days to produce this deep blue pigment.

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Gossip

Which shade of Japanese indigo blue would you wear?

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Quiz

Which plant species is traditionally cultivated in Japan to produce natural indigo dye?

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Quiz

What is the name of the fermented indigo leaf compost that forms the base of traditional Japanese aizome dye?

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Quiz

Why did Kamakura-period samurai wear undergarments dyed with the deep kachiiro indigo shade?

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Quiz

What does the word 'kachi' originally mean in the context of dyeing the kachiiro color?

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Quiz

What is the iridescent, coppery bubble on an active indigo vat called by Japanese dyers?

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Quiz

Which of these ingredients is added to an aizome vat to feed the living bacteria?

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Quiz

Which Japanese prefecture is historically celebrated as the heart of traditional aizome indigo production?

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Quiz

Which Western visitor coined the term 'Japan blue' after arriving in Japan in 1874?

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