VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

What is Katazome?

Katazome is a traditional Japanese stencil painting technique that involves carving a design onto paper to create a katagami stencil,

then using the stencil to apply dye through the cut-out areas to create a pattern. It is traditionally used to dye kimonos and other textiles.

It is quite known for being an art technique that allows for versatility and a great amount of artistic expression.

What is Furoshiki?

It refers to traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. The name is a compound word derived from furo, meaning 'bath', and shiki, meaning 'to spread out'.

These cloths became widely used during the Edo period (1603-1868), particularly for carrying clothes to and from bathhouses. During this period, people would often lay them out when changing clothes inside the bathhouse,

which is where the name comes from.

Meet the Artist: Saki Kitamura

A Kanazawa local, Saki decided to pursue her passion for art by enrolling in a high school with an art programme. After an apprenticeship at a local studio here, she has continued to pursue her arts, creating piece after piece using the katazome technique. Her work draws heavy inspiration from Japanese yokai stories, resulting in intriguing designs with an otherworldly feel.

Workshop Overview: Steps

① Design your furoshiki by picking your favorite stencils from the artist's collection. They are all themed around Japanese culture, and we will be more than happy to explain to you what each one is!

② Make your design a reality by applying dye onto the furoshiki using the stencils that you selected! 

③ The artist will then finish your work by ironing it out. Then your very own furoshiki will be ready to be taken home!

Details:

Experience fee: 18,000 yen for a group of 2 (for larger groups, an additional fee of 8,000 yen per person)

Maximum number of participants: 8

Notes:

Please make a reservation at least one week in advance so that we can confirm with the artist her availability.

No refunds for cancellations made less than one week prior to the workshop.