Yukara-ori takes its name from the Ainu word yukara, meaning “to pass down.” This textile was conceived and created by Ms. Aya Kiuchi, a dyeing and weaving artist from Asahikawa, who established her weaving house in 1962. Designed to resemble oil painting, the weaving combines 200 to 300 different colored threads to express the beauty of Hokkaido. From the dyed threads, a selection is made to form the warp and weft, with each work centered on a single theme. Motifs such as landscapes and flowers, as perceived by the artist from Hokkaido’s natural beauty, are woven into the fabric. Every step, including the dyeing of threads, is done by hand. The result is a craft that conveys both delicacy and dynamism, earning high recognition overseas.

The Passion of Founder Aya Kiuchi
Determined to create a textile unique to Hokkaido, Aya Kiuchi researched weaving techniques from around the world and carried out hundreds, even thousands, of trials. What emerged was a textile unlike any other, capturing the essence of Hokkaido’s natural beauty. In the 1970s, she was invited to exhibitions across Europe, and in 1978 she won the gold prize at the Biennale—becoming only the second Japanese artist to achieve this honor, following printmaker Masuo Ikeda. “To keep moving my hands, simply to create something good. To deliver crafts filled with the warmth of the hand, enriching both people’s hearts and daily life.” This sincere vision of Aya Kiuchi continues to be carried on today.

^{Photo courtesy of Yukara-ori Weaving House}