Aya-no-te-tsumugi is a silk textile in which all processes—spinning from cocoons, dyeing, and weaving—are carried out entirely by hand using traditional methods. Its beauty lies in the vivid colors, the sheen of silk, and its comfort, which resists wrinkling and retains its elegant drape. Although its history is relatively recent, Aya-no-te-tsumugi was created in 1966 by Mr. Masakazu Akiyama. His father had operated a dyeing and weaving business in Okinawa during the Taisho era but relocated to Miyazaki during wartime. Seeking to create a textile unique to Miyazaki, Akiyama pursued traditional techniques, giving rise to Aya-no-te-tsumugi. The weaving incorporates ancient methods such as “natural lye fermentation indigo dyeing,” in which bacteria convert indigo leaves into a water-soluble dye, as well as the revival of the rare yamato-kaimurasaki (a purple dye extracted from sea snails), and hana-ori, a weaving technique where threads are floated to form decorative patterns. In 2020, Aya-no-te-tsumugi received the prestigious Mitsui Golden Takumi Award Grand Prix, honoring artisans who preserve Japanese tradition while developing it for the future.