Somenotsukasa Yoshioka: Artisan of Japanese Traditional Dyeing

The history of dyeing dates back to ancient times, appearing several millennia BCE in such places as China, India, Rome, and Greece. These techniques were brought to Japan around the 3rd century CE.

“Japan’s oldest history of dyeing is found in books called Engishiki compiled during the early 10th century (Heian period). These describe royal rituals, customs, and clothing, including dye ingredients used for particular colors. The original sources for dyes were derived entirely from plants,” explains Sarasa Yoshioka of Somenotsukasa Yoshioka (Dye Factory Yoshioka), a dyeing factory founded during the Edo period in Kyoto.

Japanese craftsmanship is a way of life for artisans who continue faithfully making their traditional crafts while devoting themselves to enhancing their skills.