‘What is the appeal of Nishijin weaving?’—We ponder this question every single day.
The lustrous finish of the woven silk fabric is, of course, captivating. However, the charm of Nishijin-ori lies not only in the beauty of the finished fabric. The sound produced by the looms, the rhythm created by the craftsmen’s fingertips as they weave, and every single detail of this process are imbued with the skills and traditions cultivated over many years.
Those of us who love Nishijin-ori have recently begun to focus on this ‘sound of weaving’ and share it on YouTube.
The relationship between Nishijin weaving and ‘sound’
In Kyoto’s Nishijin district, textiles are woven using techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Various craftsmen are involved in the processes that precede weaving. The movements of the loom, which are essential for weaving, also embody the experience and skills of the craftsmen who weave the textiles.We at ‘Nishijin Okamoto Okamoto Textiles Co., Ltd.’ are a textile workshop. At our factory in Kamigyo Ward, we primarily use handlooms, while in Tango, we weave silk textiles on power looms. The sound produced by the handlooms in our Kamigyo Ward workshop is not merely the sound of work; we believe it is the resonance of culture and history.
The world of woven sounds delivered on YouTube
There are many ways to convey the charm of traditional crafts, but by focusing on ‘sound,’ we hope to give you a sense of the world of Nishijin-ori. Many of our craftsmen were born and raised in homes where Nishijin-ori was woven. For craftsmen who grew up in Nishijin, the sound of the loom is like a lullaby that has been with them since childhood. They grew up with that sound and eventually became the ones who create it themselves.
The ‘sound of the loom,’ which is like the breath of the weaver, this sound on YouTube…
We hope this will allow you to appreciate not only the ‘static beauty’ of Nishijin weaving but also its ‘dynamic charm.’
Customer response and potential
We recently released a video of ‘the sound of weaving,’ and we have already received an increasing number of inquiries from both within and outside Japan, with comments such as ‘the sound is like meditation’ and ‘I would like to see the actual weaving process in person.’
It is encouraging for the artisans to see that people are becoming interested in the world of Nishijin weaving through the sound.
We will continue to strive to pass down this traditional craftsmanship.
Nishijin weaving is not only about the beauty of silk fabric but also the sounds of weaving and the skills of the artisans that breathe life into it. We have high hopes for YouTube as a means to convey this. Ten years ago, we never imagined we could do something like this.
We will continue to share the charm of Nishijin weaving through sound.
Please take a look at our YouTube video and embark on a journey to experience the sounds of weaving.
P.S.
The author of this blog post films, edits, and posts videos.
Artisans value a lifestyle that resists change. A stable daily routine is the rhythm that produces the finest textiles. However, the approximately 30 minutes spent filming in the morning is met with a subtle reluctance, as they think, ‘Not again?’
Nevertheless, we convey to the artisans that we want to share the soothing sound of weaving with the world, and somehow manage to film.
This is the backdrop of the Nishijin Okamoto Channel.
We would be truly delighted if you could subscribe to the channel and watch the videos of the weaving sounds.
