Where do they come from "indigo dyeing" in Japan and who is making it? Overseas media hit the spotlight on

Japanese"Indigo dyeOf foreign media interested inGreat Big StoryI visited the indigo factory and dyeing factory made in Tokushima and is spotlighting the technology.

The Link Between Japanese Samurai and Real Indigo - YouTube


This is jeans. It is dyed with chemical substances.


This is indigo dye. It is the same "indigo", but the plantEyeTo make fromaquamarineIt has been done since before the Warring States Period.


This movie is exploring what such "indigo dye" is.



In Tokushima prefecture, "indigo dyeing" has been actively performed for centuries. One of the reasons that indigo dyeing has become popular in Tokushima is said to have been due to the Yoshinogawa where rich soil flows.


Regarding the reason why indigo dyeing has come to be widely done, it is described on the homepage of Mikuma city, Tokushima prefecture as follows.

Mima-shi Tourist Information | Yoshino River, Ai, Utsudetsu
http://www.city.mima.lg.jp/kankou/kankouannai/shiru/yosinogawaaiudatsu.html

The area around the Yoshino River was flooded with repeated typhoons, so it was difficult to rice.
Therefore, utilizing the fertile soil brought up by flooding, the production of "indigo" (annual plant of the tadaceaceae) which can be harvested before the typhoon is attacked took place.

This is the eye of a plant that becomes a dye of indigo dye.


Indigo dye is said to have spread widely in the Azuchi Momoyama period in the early 1600s, and it will be used for samurai kimono etc.


"Indigo dyeing makes yarn durable, then we smell off," from the late Edo periodAwa AiThe 6th generation of Niigata - made indigenous place which is producing · New residence student.


"It's under the armor, there is a color of indigo, but if you wear such a thing of indigo dyeing, if you do injury, you will not be suppressed not even with cuts, or there is an antibacterial effect."




In addition, indigo dye has flame retardancy, it can withstand up to 1,500 degrees Ka, so it was useful for clothes such as fireflies.




To make a dye for indigo dye it is necessary to dry the leaves of the harvested eye under the sun and turn it over and over until the leaves become indigo.


As Niii says, "It is a dye made over about a year," it takes a huge amount of time and effort to make indigo dye. For this reason, chemical dyes have become widely used in modern times, and it seems that the number of indigenous plants which existed in the area has now decreased to only five.


However, the movie 's narrator says, "Indigo dye' s indigo color is the only one that is not unique."



Subsequently appeared was the dyeing factoryFurusono factoryKoga Furusho who runs. "The difference in coloring is the most beautiful when dyeing it is a chemical dye, and it is indigo dyeing that is a little dyed after dyeing," he talks about the difference between indigo dye and chemical dye.



Furthermore, Mr. Kosuzo said that Indigo dye can express blue color over a wide range, and it is said that dark "VictoryFrom "near green"Delivery color"There are various colors that can be reproduced.


Indigo dyeing by Mr. Furuso


However, these colors can not be easily outputted.


"It's gonna take a while now, but it's time to dye it, so it takes about 10 days to finish it," said Mr. Furuso, who talks about the difficulties of indigo dyeing.



It is obvious if you look at his hand that Mr. Furuzon's technique is certain.


Furuzon's claws are dyed with a dye due to a dull blue, which speaks eloquently that it has continued indigo dyeing for about 50 years.


Mr. Furuzo talks about indigo dyeing as "It is like a tool that expresses myself, because there are places like doing it half-way."


Mr. Arai also said, "Let's continue making indigo, the feelings of the five indigo plants, cultivation of indigo making, work hard to make it," I talked about the future of indigo dyeing It was.