OKAMURA (Kichiemon).
Kai narada no tafu [Tafu textiles of Kai Narada]
Tafu weaving in the Narada region
Okamura Kichiemon’s account of travelling to Kai Narada and learning about the production of tafu textiles. Okamura printed on 50 copies of this book (his usual limitation is 100 copies), with the inclusion of two tafu textile samples.
Kai Narada is the old name for what is now the Narada onsen region of Yamanashi prefecture, where tafu is made. This is a form of textile weaving that is closely aligned with Japanese paper-making. Both are rooted in the kozo (mulberry) plant, but in the case of tafu the kozo fibres are spun into thread that can then be woven on a loom. It is often compared to shifu, which is also a textile made from kozo fibre, but instead the threads are thinly cut and twisted paper (rather than the raw fibre).
Tafu can also be made from wisteria vine fibres, and one of the spreads in Okamura’s book beautifully depicts the tumbling blossom. The resulting textiles are extremely tough and durable, so much so that they are sometimes beaten or treated with lye to soften the fabric. Traditionally it was used for ordinary people’s clothing as well as bags and sacks.
Extremely rare. No copies outside of Japan.
