The beauty of Japan, the world of Mizuhiki, weaving traditions in Iida, is united with sincerity

SouthShinshuIida was a key point on the highway, and cultures from the East and West were once known asShinshuIt is also known as the Little Kyoto of the World, and various cultures have been cultivated. In addition, there is a wealth of kozo, which is the raw material for washi paper, and the production of washi paper has been a thriving experience since ancient times.

In light of this background, Iida Mizuhiki is currently continuing its career as an industry that boasts a national market share of approximately 70%, as a traditional craft that represents the region. We will unravel its history, get to know the thoughts of people, and get to know the charms of Iida Mizuhiki.

"Thanks to this, even after the haircut order was issued in the Meiji era, Motomu remained as an industry, and that technology was passed down to Mizuhiki."

Although the number of opportunities to be used as engagement gifts has decreased, new uses such as accessories and wrapping are increasing.

"To put a water-hung object is to wrap your heart around you. Even if the purpose and design change, your feelings will not change. I want to convey that clearly," he says.

The finest raw water-spring that inherits traditional techniques
The deep texture of Mizuhiki created by hand-dyed hand Nonomura Mizuhiki Store manufactures "Fresh Mizuhiki", a paper string before crafting. Not only are the widely used colours such as gold, silver, red and white, but there are also some quirky ones, such as fluorescent colours and glitter, and there are a whopping 200 to 300 varieties. It is said that this is the only place in Iida where you can make so many varieties.

Another thing is that only Yoshiyuki is working on at Iida, the largest producer of Mizuhiki crafts in the country. It is the finest raw mizuhiki made by hand-painting and hand-dying without using machines. It is said that pinching a cloth into each piece and applying glue made from seaweed and white dye to smear it all at once is extremely forceful and is even more difficult than it looks.

The tradition of Iida Mizuhiki, which changes, evolves, and woven
All other forms of shapes are tied together by hand Kinoshita Mizuhiki is responsible for the craftsmanship of raw mizuhiki in a variety of shapes. Even now that mechanization has progressed, all the work processes are done by hand. As a result, a characteristic of the Mizuhiki industry is that it has a large number of staff besides employees, and it seems that there are still 200-300 home-workers around Iida, and there are also staff overseas, such as China and Vietnam.

「水引細工の作業は1人1工程の分業制が基本。ひとりで全工程を行うより、同じパーツを手掛けた方が精度も効率も良くなるんですよ」と語る木下社長のところでは、少量生産の高級品だけなく日常で使える商品も多く、お正月飾りだけでも約180万個を手掛けています。