Yonaguni-ori/Okinawa

与那国織

Pronunciation: Yonaguni-ori
Production area: Yonaguni Island, Okinawa Prefecture

Yonaguni-ori is a family of island textiles recognizable by bright yellows and orderly geometric patterns. Materials include silk, cotton, ramie, and bashō (banana) fibers; dyeing uses plant dyes such as fukugi and sharinbai as well as mud dyeing. Representative weaves include hanaori (floral patterning), Dutati (simple, airy cloth in ramie or cotton for hot weather), Shidadi (plant- or mud-dyed patterned cloth), and Kagan-nubuu (a narrow “minsa”-type belt with auspicious miutu kasuri motifs). Records show these textiles were already paid as tribute in the early 16th century. After wartime decline, production was revived around 1965 and has since grown into a local industry.