Weaving MANGA with the Rare Nishijin Technique “Hikibaku”｜New Work “Hyuran.” to Be Unveiled at the Expo
Weaving MANGA with the Rare Nishijin Technique “Hikibaku”｜New Tapestry “Hyuran.” to Be Unveiled at the Osaka-Kansai Expo
Okamoto Orimono Co., Ltd. (Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto)
Okamoto Orimono Co., Ltd. (CEO: Keiji Okamoto) has created a new tapestry titled “Hyuran.” in collaboration with the young manga creator unit “Granuto,” using the rare Nishijin weaving technique known as “hikibaku.” The tapestry measures approximately 250cm × 140cm.
In an era where traditional crafts are once again being recognized as forms of expression, Okamoto Orimono engages with manga—a contemporary storytelling medium—through the lens of hikibaku.
The piece will be exhibited at the Japan International Exposition “Osaka-Kansai Expo” in October 2025, at the EXPO Messe “WASSE.” We invite you to experience the breath of color and material that cannot be fully conveyed through photographs.
Telling MANGA Stories Through the Traditional Technique of Hikibaku
Okamoto Orimono Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of silk textiles traditionally used to adorn shrines and temples.
We have preserved the expressive potential of Nishijin weaving, which can only be produced using handlooms and shuttle looms—now rare in the industry. We value the soft, dimensional texture that only shuttle looms can create. Hikibaku, though frequently used in our workshop, is now a rare technique and material even within Nishijin. It involves applying foil to paper, slicing it into thin strips, and weaving it together with silk threads to create depth and light.
Hikibaku is not merely a technique to be preserved—it is a language to be retold and passed on. That potential is woven into “Hyuran.”
In “Hyuran.,” we use the layered structure of pictorial hikibaku to express manga’s unique panel layout, blank space, and flow of time within the textile. The three layers of silk and foil quietly speak fragments of a story.
About the Work “Hyuran.”
Ayame, with long hair, and Meg, wearing glasses, drift from their everyday lives into a dreamlike world. Surrounded by unfamiliar flora, they chase a radiant light called “Hyuran”—and eventually, they reunite.
“Hyuran.” is a textile that stirs memory the moment your gaze touches it. It was created as an attempt to weave the continuation of someone’s dream.
Exhibition Overview
- Exhibition Title: Future Voyage – The Journey of Small Businesses Toward 20XX
- Venue: Japan International Exposition “Osaka-Kansai Expo” EXPO Messe “WASSE”
- Dates: Friday, October 3 – Tuesday, October 7, 2025
- Format: Interactive Exhibition
- Press Release by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
This work will be unveiled at the Expo—a place where we ask ourselves: “Can traditional techniques weave the stories of the future?” This is one possible answer.
About Okamoto Orimono Co., Ltd.
Founded in Nishijin, Kyoto. Specializing in Kinran textiles for shrines and temples, we strive to preserve traditional techniques while exploring contemporary expressions.
We seek the future of Nishijin weaving—“wrapping the weight of technique in the lightness of story.” May this presentation remain in the memories of many, as a crossroads of tradition and creativity.
About Granuto
A creative unit from Kyoto, formed by 19-year-old Kohnoshin and 18-year-old Metabo.
