VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Along with lacquerware and ceramics, dyeing is considered one of the most important and sophisticated crafts of Kanazawa. With an even more extensive use of elegant patterns, designs and colors, one might add that Kaga Yuzen, as it is known around here, may well be the most truly artistic of them all. Yuzen, the name of this technique’s inventor, has become the Japanese term for “resist dyeing” while Kaga is the ancient name of the feudal domain it originated in, several centuries ago. Resist dyeing techniques consist of preventing the dye from reaching all the cloth’s surface by outlining the designs’ contours and chosen elements with a rice-starch based paste, thus allowing the figures to present themselves clearly and precisely. 

Indeed, this technique, which is mostly applied in the kimono industry, can be found in various places in Japan. But what makes Kaga Yuzen unique to Kanazawa is the use of the region’s traditional and very distinctive palette of five colors, called the Kaga gosai: indigo, crimson, ocher, dark green and royal purple. Such a palette produces elegant and sober works far from any ostentation. The general tones bring to mind the peaceful light of landscapes after the rain and the realistic motifs of birds, clouds and flowers and leaves bitten by insects add a contemplative feel that leaves the eye pondering the impermanent and imperfect nature of beauty. At its core, Kaga Yuzen is deeply linked to the Japanese traditional sense of aesthetics...

Close to the samurai district, Kanazawa’s Nagamachi Yuzenkan is both a studio and an exhibition space where one can learn about Kaga Yuzen’s history and techniques, gaze at the incredible artistry of the kimonos and pieces on display and meet Ikkou Teranishi, the manager of the place. Quite outspoken and adamant about the quality of the art to which he has devoted his life, Mr. Teranishi feels compelled to continue showcasing its beauty. That is why his studio gladly welcomes visitors to attend a coloring workshop that is authentic, fun and educational. The perfect occasion to craft yourself a highly personal and charming souvenir from Kanazawa*. The workshop allows participants quite some leeway to express their sensibilities. Choosing from 20 kinds of flower patterns and the available accessories, attendees will be asked to use the colors from the Kaga gosai palette freely to design a piece of their own, using the same tools and techniques as professional craftspersons, under the guidance of artists and staff from the studio.

(*) Dyeing being a lengthy process, please note that you won’t be able to take your item with you on the day of the workshop. However, the studio can ship it to your overseas address within a reasonable timeframe.