1-1-1 Otemachi, TOKYO

1-1-1 Otemachi, TOKYO

KIMONO COLLECTION 着物コレクション

 

 

KIMONO COLLECTION 着物コレクション

山口伊太郎  Yamaguchi Itarou

 

Yamaguchi Itaro's greatest characteristic lies in his exceptional use of color.
In addition to traditional yuzen techniques, he mastered the techniques of gradation, blurring, and layering dyeing, creating a sense of depth and radiance in his kimonos that resemble works of art. His delicate dyeing, which changes color depending on how the light hits it, possesses a unique charm that is unlike that of other artists.

 

During the period of rapid economic growth, and amidst the thriving Nishijin textile industry, he expressed his desire not just for business success, but to pursue weaving techniques. At the age of 70, he began working on a "Genji Monogatari Emaki" (The Tale of Genji Picture Scroll) made of woven textiles. Initially, he planned to complete it in 10 years, aiming for completion within a lifetime of 80 years. However, driven by his unrelenting pursuit of perfection, the project took over 30 years.

 

In 2007, as he reached the final stages of his work, with all instructions for the last scroll completed and only the final piece awaiting completion, he passed away at the age of 105. The final volume of the "Genji Monogatari Nishiki-ori Emaki" was completed on March 3 of the following year.

 

Kyōgen Maru  狂言丸

[丸帯  Maru Obi ]

Yamaguchi Itarou 山口伊太郎

Yamaguchi Itarou 山口伊太郎

※Yamaguchi’s maru obi "Kyogen-maru" is a masterful work of textile art inspired by Kyogen, a traditional Japanese performing art. Kyogen, often performed alongside Noh theater, is known for its satirical and humorous storytelling. This obi captures the essence of Kyogen’s theatrical world, blending Yamaguchi’s refined design aesthetics with exceptional weaving techniques.