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.
Gold Leaf: Ono no Komachi 本金箔 小野小町
[袋帯 Fukuro Obi]

Yamaguchi Itarou 山口伊太郎
※"Honkimpaku Ono no Komachi" (本金箔 小野小町) is a fukuro-obi (formal woven sash) by Yamaguchi Itaro, a master of textile artistry renowned for his exquisite weaving techniques and refined aesthetic sense. This obi is inspired by Ono no Komachi, one of the Rokkasen (Six Immortal Poets) and a legendary beauty of the Heian period (9th century). The design, enhanced with pure gold leaf (honkimpaku), captures the elegance, poetic grace, and ephemeral beauty associated with Komachi’s legacy.