Koho Nishiki Weaving Workshop:Kyoto

The Beauty of Nishiki: The Textile Art of Tatsumura Koho

Nishiki has long been synonymous with “beautiful things,” as in “decorating one’s hometown with Nishiki,” “nishiki flags,” and “nishiki autumn.” We are a workshop that aims to achieve and surpass the beauty of Nishiki using traditional weaving techniques that have been passed down over four generations from the first Tatsumura Heizo (pen name Koha), the second Tatsumura Heizo (pen name Kosho), textile artist Tatsumura Koho, and Nishiki weaving artist Tatsumura Shu. We hope you enjoy the traditional Nishiki weaving that changes in a myriad of ways depending on the light and angle.

The Textile Art of Tatsumura Koho

Nishiki weaving is a colorful, intricate, and gorgeous silk patterned fabric that has been hand-woven on a takabata loom, which was brought to Japan from China at least 1,200 years ago. The character “nishiki” is said to have been created by arranging the characters for “kin” (gold) and “han” (silk fabric) because its value is equal to gold. The word “nishiki” has been used since ancient times to describe something beautiful, such as in “nishiki imperial flags,” “decorating one’s hometown with brocade,” and “autumn brocade.” “Nishiki” is a work of art that represents the pinnacle of silk fabric and is rare around the world. Historically, it has been an object of admiration for the Japanese, and is something that the Japanese can be proud of around the world as a form of beauty.

We think of textiles in three dimensions, not just flat but solid. One of the major characteristics of Nishiki textiles is that they are multi-layered and three-dimensional. The silk threads are also shaped like translucent glass rods, with a slightly rounded triangular cross section, and a prism-like structure. This is metaphorically expressed as a “silk prism.” This structure allows the silk threads to transmit and reflect light, giving off a complex sparkle like a diamond. By utilizing the mechanisms and properties of silk threads in the work and by treating textiles as a three-dimensional world, Nishiki textiles change in a myriad of ways depending on the light, becoming “textures of light.”

One of the most important things in the world of textiles is “texture.” This refers to the visual and tactile texture of each textile, and this texture varies subtly depending on the weaver. With a skilled weaver, the sound of the loom is rhythmic and light, pleasant to listen to, and the finished textile has a plump, indescribable texture. One could say that texture is the true essence of textile art.

When producing Nishiki textiles, I aim to ensure that all my pieces have a sense of dignity. This is easy to say, but when you actually try to create a piece, a high level of artistic perfection is required. When it comes to form, we must approach the work with a strict attitude, not neglecting even a single line or dot, and when it comes to color, we must be able to create a beautiful “symphony of colors.” I believe that it is from this attitude that the “beauty of Nishiki” is born.

There is no word in English or French that corresponds to Nishiki in the broad sense, and it is called “NISHIKI” in foreign languages. When you look up “nishiki” in a Japanese-English dictionary, you will find the word “brocade,” but this is also conceptually different. We hope that more people will experience the vastness and charm of the world of Nishiki weaving, which is said to be “the most beautiful textile in the world,” and that “NISHIKI” will be recognized as a universal word.

Studio tour and weaving experience

Traditional Nishiki Textiles: Koho Nishiki Weaving Studio
This is Koho Nishiki Weaving Studio, which produces traditional Nishiki textiles. Please come and visit us for a tour of the studio and a weaving experience. You can see the actual site. We are visited by many people, from overseas, children to seniors, for VIP hospitality, museum personnel, tea ceremony personnel, school trips, university seminars, and children’s independent research.
Nishiki weaving artist Shu Tatsumura

1 Tour Koho Nishikiori Workshop Tour

Do you want to visit a traditional Kyoto weaving workshop? We will guide you through the Nishikiori Workshop, where textile artist Koho Tatsumura creates his works. You can see Nishikiori works, restored textiles, restored Takahata. Explanations are provided and available in English. Shopping is also available.
Observation fee: 500 yen per adult

300 yen per student (free for elementary school students and younger)

*Cash payment only

Capacity: Approximately 20 people (groups accepted)

Time required: 60 minutes to 90 minutes

02 Experience/observation: Plain weaving and weaving workshop tour

Experience weaving plain weaving silk fabric measuring approximately 10cm x 10cm. You can take home the fabric you have woven. You can also observe the workshop.

Experience fee: 1,500 yen per person (separate observation fee required)

*Cash payment only

Capacity: Two handlooms are available.
Duration per person: Approximately 30 minutes
(Weaving time: Approximately 20 minutes

03 Experience/Observation Experience Nishikijiori (Twill weaving) and visit to the weaving workshop

Would you like to experience traditional twill weaving in Kyoto? This is an experience where you will weave a twill silk fabric of approximately 18cm x 18cm. You can take home what you have woven. You can also visit the workshop.
Experience fee: 3,500 yen per person (separate visit fee required)
*Cash payment only
Capacity: One hand loom is provided.
Duration per person: Approximately 50 minutes
(Weaving time: Approximately 40 minutes

04 Experience/Tour Parent-child weaving experience (flat weaving) and weaving workshop tour

Tour with your preschool child! Choose one of about eight different colored threads (weft threads) and weave a 10cm square silk fabric on a traditional loom to take home. You can also tour the workshop with an explanation.
Target Preschoolers
Experience fee 1,500 yen per person (tax included)
Guardians pay a tour fee of 500 yen per person
*Cash payment only
Capacity One hand loom is provided.
Time required: Studio tour + weaving experience: about 90 minutes

(weaving time: about 20 minutes

05 Experience/Tour: Takahata weaving experience and workshop tour

Experience the highest level of hand weaving techniques!

This is a valuable experience to weave on a Takahata loom used by weavers. Please try out the highest level of hand weaving techniques. There are three courses: A, B, and C. *Silk thread is used.

Courses: A: Weaving experience + tour

B: Weave and take home + tour

Course: Weave and take home + tour

*If you are new to Takahata weaving, it is easier to try courses A or B.

Experience fee: A: 1,500 yen per person (tour fee required separately)

B: 25,000 yen per person (tour fee required separately)

Course: 35,000 yen per person (tour fee required separately)

*Payment by cash

06 Experience/Observation Let’s try weaving foil Experience and workshop tour

We have made it possible for you to experience the traditional technique of weaving foil. ・You can take home the fabric you have woven. ・You can visit the workshop. ・It is a foil fabric of about 18cm x 18cm.
Experience fee 6,000 yen per person (tour fee required separately)
*Cash payment only
Capacity One hand loom is available.
Duration Approximately 120

07 Experience/Observation Handmade Nishikiori Accessories Experience and Workshop Tour

You can choose one of several Nishikiori fabrics and make an accessory.
You can make one of the following: “earrings, pierced earrings, brooch, macaron strap, large hair tie, small hair tie, tie pin.”
Experience fee 3,500 yen per person (tour fee included)
*Cash payment only
Capacity Approximately 10 people can experience the experience at one time.
Duration Approximately 40

08 Course/Experience Koho Nishikiori Class Weaving Culture Course Weaving

We will do weaving and lectures in a short period of four times. (If you are far away, you can also take the course for one night and two days.)
1st lecture: How to make a fabric (45 minutes)
Weaving: After a lecture on how to operate the loom and practice how to weave beautifully, you will weave a plain weave of about 10cm x 10cm. You will take home the fabric you have woven.
2nd lecture: Characteristics of Nishikiori (45 minutes)
Thread making: Using colored threads and gold threads, you will create your own weft thread for twill weaving.
3rd lecture: Talk about restoration (45 minutes)
Weaving: Twill weaving. Using the thread made in the 2nd session. After a lecture on how to operate the loom and practice how to weave beautifully, you will finally weave a fabric of about 20cm x 24cm to take home.
4th lecture: Talk about the taka loom (45 minutes)
Weaving: After a lecture on how to operate the taka loom, you will have the opportunity to try weaving on a taka loom

09 On-site experience On-site experience and exhibition

We provide on-site weaving experience for events and academic conferences. We also create commemorative items.

Link:https://www.koho-nishiki.com/

TourLink:https://www.koho-nishiki.com/activity/