[Mie/Iga] Hand-braided silk crafts that the home of the ninja is proud of
When people hear Iga City, Mie Prefecture, most think of ninjas. However, this land has another culture with a history just as long as that of the ninjas. It is the art of hand-braiding silk threads, known as "Iga Kumihimo." Using only the highest-grade domestic silk—which accounts for less than 1% of the total raw silk distribution in the country—craftsmen braid each strand by hand. Why was this craft born in Iga?
The background of this craft's birth
The region of Iga has flourished as a silk-producing area since ancient times. The climate of the basin, surrounded by mountains, was suitable for sericulture, and high-quality raw silk was abundantly available. While the technique of kumihimo is said to have been introduced from the continent during the Nara period, it was this background as a rich silk-producing region that allowed the technique to take deep root in Iga.
In the samurai society, kumihimo were practical items used as cords for armor and as sageo (cords) for swords. In times of peace, demand expanded for use as kimono obi-jime (sash ties) and haori cords, and Iga craftsmen honed their exquisite techniques. In 1976 (Showa 51), Iga Kumihimo was certified as the first "Nationally Designated Traditional Craft" in Mie Prefecture. Unlike traditional crafts designated independently by local regions, "Traditional Crafts" are certified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry based on law. Meeting these strict standards speaks to the value of Iga Kumihimo.
Craftsman techniques and dedication
To make kumihimo, threads are set on a stand called a "marudai" or "kadodai," and the braided work is done by regularly crossing bundles of threads (tama) attached to weights. Dozens of threads are used in some cases. If each crossing is not uniform, the pattern will be disrupted. It is a process of braiding by hand-feel, fundamentally different from fabric woven uniformly by machine.
Iga Kumihimo specialty stores use only the highest-grade domestic raw silk, which accounts for less than 1% of domestic distribution. Because silk is composed of the same amino acids as human skin, it is a natural material that is resistant to static electricity, does not attract dust, and is gentle on those with sensitive skin. It has a slight stiffness when first used, but it develops its inherent suppleness as you continue to use it. When a material that "improves with age" is combined with a handcrafted craft, the object becomes something more than just a tool.
Reasons for choosing this product
The item featured this time is the "Iga Bo-obi Strap." It is a flat-braided neck strap with a total length of about 50cm, made of 100% pure silk. There is a part at the top called an "odamaki," which slides up and down, allowing it to be used like a necktie or as a regular neck strap. Even in situations where you want to keep your employee ID or smartphone around your neck, the soft touch unique to silk ensures it does not put a strain on your neck.
The price is ¥3,300 (tax included). Considering that it is made by hand-braiding domestic silk and finished as a practical item for daily use, it is an accessible price range for a traditional craft. It comes in multiple colors, including subdued tones that are easy to match with a suit.
Situations where you would want to use this
For those who wear a card around their neck for work every day but feel like something is not quite right—I would like you to try this at least once. Instead of a plastic holder and a nylon cord, it is a silk braided cord. Even though the action of tapping your card is the same, the feel against your neck and the texture you feel in your hand are different.
If you choose it as a gift for Father's Day or a birthday, you can present it along with the story that it is a "100% domestic silk traditional craft hand-braided by craftsmen in Iga City, Mie Prefecture." Silk braided cords become more supple the more they are used. It is a gift that allows the recipient to feel that change little by little every day.
▶ See the Iga Bo-obi Strap on Amazon
Summary
Iga's kumihimo has lived on from the days when it was a cord for armor to the present day as a small accessory to hang around the neck. Even though the form has changed, the process of craftsmen braiding by hand remains the same. If you incorporate a little bit of authentic craft into the things you use every day, the texture of your daily life will change quietly.
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