Shoai Bushu Kon-ori is a cotton textile woven with warp and weft threads dyed in genuine indigo (shōai). Its defining trait is that the more it is washed, the deeper and more vivid the indigo becomes, giving the fabric a refined beauty. The Hanyū and Kazo areas of Saitama were historically active in cotton and indigo cultivation. Around 1781–1788, indigo dyeing techniques were introduced here, and farm women began making indigo-dyed work garments during the agricultural off-season. At its peak, the textile was widely known as Bushu Aojima (Bushu blue stripes) and became a major industry of the region. Traditional Bushu indigo dyeing uses natural fermentation vats made from indigo leaves. Dyeing was done by hand, giving subtle variations in tone. Both yarn-dyeing and fabric stencil-dyeing were practiced. The woven stripes (shima) were typically made from indigo-dyed cotton. While modernization later replaced indigo vats with tanks and shifted to mixed natural and synthetic indigo (wari-date), efforts continue to preserve traditional hand-dyeing and weaving. Today, Bushu Kon-ori is produced not only for Kimono but also for handkerchiefs, tablecloths, and other lifestyle goods. It is recognized as a Traditional Handicraft of Saitama and was registered as a Regional Collective Trademark in 2008.

Photo courtesy ofPhoto courtesy of Tourism Division, Department of Industry and Labor, Saitama Prefecture