Kiyoto Suzuta
Sarasa STORY
Nabeshima Sarasa Secret Book (copy)
～Age of Discovery～
Chintz originated in India before the Common Era. various patterns, including imaginary plants and animals, were created using woodblock printing on cotton fabric. With the start of the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, chintz spread to various countries and became a fabric that captivated the world. There are various theories as to the reasons for its popularity, but it is believed to have been due to the new fiber that was cotton, the never-before-seen patterns, the high durability achieved through metal mordant dyeing, and the vibrant colors that remain even today after hundreds of years.
Eventually, not only was it imported from India, but chintz was also produced in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Japan using unique dyeing techniques in each country.
The birth of Japanese sarasa and Nabeshima sarasa
(Sarasa is the name used in Japan and meaning Woodblock print cloth)
During the Muromachi period, when these cloth were imported into Japan in earnest, it was warmly welcomed by feudal lords and tea masters, and became a major trade item. Gradually, unique "Japanese sarasa" began to be produced all over Japan. Typically, it is dyed using stencils or by hand, but in the Nabeshima (Saga prefecture's old place name ), a hybrid technique combining woodblock printing and stencil printing was developed by Kusan Dosei . Since then, it has been passed down from father to son as a tribute to the domain, but when the tribute was abolished with the abolition of the feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures, production gradually decreased and ceased in the early 1900s.
Creating modern sarasa through traditional woodblock techniques.
With no one left to carry on the tradition of Nabeshima Sarasa, the woodblocks were used as firewood and tools such as stencils were lost. Strangely enough, almost none of the items that were supposed to have been presented remain, and it has been called the "phantom Sarasa." About 50 years later, my grandfather, Teruji Suzuta (then 43 years old), came across a secret book and sample book that had been fortunately left behind.In his later years, he chose "solving the mystery of secrets" as his creative theme.A few years later, he traveled alone to Southeast Asia and India to clarify the techniques, and began to seriously work on restoring Nabeshima sarasa. After many years of research, he wanted to create a modern sarasa, so exhibited his work at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition as "Mokuhanzuri Sarasa".
" Even if we revive it, if we don't create something new, we'll end up going down the same path."
I continue to create new Sarasa based on these words of my grandfather.