A Water Tour of Kansai Producing the Colors of Awa Aizome (indigo dyeing) TOKUSHIMA Prefecture Tokushima City "One simply can't buy water." The aizome dyer went up the Yoshino River in quest of water. The Yoshino River, which has fostered Awa indigo for more than 500 years. In Tokushima Prefecture, the word "water" reminds locals first and foremost of the Yoshino River. This 194-kilometer river, in the northern part of the prefecture and one of Japan's three major rivers, is fed by the streams of the Ishizuchi mountain range. Nicknamed "Shikoku-saburo," it was a "river wild" in its entirety; the fertile soil around it, carried by floods, together with the local climate are perfectly suited to the cultivation of Awa indigo. Thanks to a policy of protection implemented by the local han (feudal clan) during the Edo period, Awa indigo went on to become a well-known product. Indigo artist, FURUSHO Toshiharu The atelier of FURUSHO Riichiro, an important indigo artist designated a prefectural living treasure, is found a few kilometers up the Yoshino River. "Water is as essential for aizome as are sukumo and ash," declares FURUSHO Toshiharu, the oldest son of Riichiro and the sixth head of the atelier. Every step of Awa aizome production involves water, from the cultivation of the smartweed annual from which Awa indigo is made to the production of sukumo, the final dyestuff. The role of water is seen throughout, from the repeated beating of the dried indigo leaves with water until they ferment to the process of aidate, or the building up of the indigo; from the refermenting of the indigo to the addition of boiling water, ash and sake to form sukumo, and of course in the subsequent dyeing and rinsing. The cultivation of indigo plants and the production of sukumo are the domain of aishi, indigo experts. Dyeing begins with the process of aidate. The water in Furusho's atelier is drawn from the underground waters of the Yoshino River. Invaluable for bringing out the color of the indigo, the plentiful supply with its nearly constant temperature enables Furusho to easily undertake aidate, even in winter. In the past, when the Furusho family lived farther downstream, seawater began to enter the groundwater, impairing the color of the dye. Seeking more suitable water, the family moved to its present location. "Unlike sukumo and ash, water cannot be stocked," the family states. (Right)Bubbles on the surface are called "ai-no hana," or indigo flowers. They indicate that fermentation has finished and that ai (indigo) has built up. Wetting a cloth in water, placing it into the indigo tank, pulling it out again, Furusho's work is accompanied by a symphony of water sounds. The sibilance of the dyer's workshop reminds visitors of the faraway fountainhead of the Yoshino River. Furusho indigo dyeing center TEL 088-622-3028 Cloth is dipped slowly and smoothly so that it does not wrinkle with the water's resistance. Cloth drawn from the indigo tank is accompanied by the sound of dripping. 100 days to make sukumo, 10 days for aidate. The indigo color represents a form of collaboration between water and people. BACK NEXT All images Copyright. 1999 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.