Nagai-tsumugi is a silk textile produced in the Nagai Basin of Yamagata Prefecture, known for its rustic and natural appearance. Its patterns, woven with large-scale Kasuri (ikat) techniques, are mainly in indigo, brown, and gray tones. Since the early Edo period, the basin was a major production area for Aoso (ramie), which was shipped to Niigata and used for weaving Echigo Jofu, an Important Intangible Cultural Property. Nagai Tsumugi is distinguished by its unique “Yone-ryu Kasuri (rice-grain style ikat),” using Weft Kasuri (yokogasuri). Unlike the common Kukuri Kasuri (resist-tying ikat) method, Nagai-tsumugi uses Surikomi-zome Kasuri (rub-dye ikat), where color is rubbed into pre-dyed threads with a Takebera (bamboo spatula). This technique, also used in Yuki Tsumugi, produces textiles with a soft and supple feel.

Photo courtesy of Yamagata Prefecture