programs
Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship: Full-Immersion Course -35 Days
In this program, participants will stay at the ambitious Kurume Kasuri workshop “Sakata Orimono” for 35 days and produce Kurume Kasuri based on their own designs. They will have the opportunity to learn all major processes of Kurume Kasuri, including tying, indigo dyeing, and weaving.
Additionally, participants will experience traditional Japanese culture, such as visiting the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, which is deeply connected to Kurume Kasuri, and trying on a kasuri yukata.
Before and after the stay, Sakata Orimono’s representative, Kazuo Sakata, will hold online lectures to provide deep learning and insights beyond the duration of the stay. At the end of the program, participants will be awarded a “Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship Completion Certificate.”
Kasuri (ikat) originated in India and spread worldwide, with enthusiasts across the globe. In Japan, Bingo Kasuri in Hiroshima/Okayama, Iyo Kasuri in Ehime, and Kurume Kasuri in Fukuoka were known as the three major kasuri production areas. However, Bingo Kasuri shifted to canvas and denim, and Iyo Kasuri to towels. Kurume Kasuri in Chikugo, Fukuoka Prefecture, is now the only area with a significant number of weavers remaining.
Sakata Orimono, which offers this program, is a weaving workshop that values tradition while constantly challenging itself to create Kurume Kasuri that meets modern needs. This unique program allows participants to stay for over a month at Sakata Orimono and create kasuri from scratch based on their original designs.
Available Dates
- Pre-course Lectures: Early June
- On-site Production: Late June to late July
- Post-course Lectures: August
Pricing [Gross or Net]
¥973,000 :: The price is per person for groups of two or more participants.
Items Included in the Price / Optional Menu
- Included in the price:
Tuition, material costs, accommodation fees, interpreter fees (only related to the course), bicycle rental (assumes commuting from accommodation to Sakata Orimono by bicycle), expenses related to viewing the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, yukata dressing experience, etc. - Not included in the price:
Travel expenses, meals, overseas shipping costs for fabric, and any other items not listed above. - Optional Menu:
Craft tour to visit other Kurume Kasuri workshops or nearby Yame crafts workshops for paper lanterns, Japanese paper, wooden barrels, incense, etc. (Additional fees apply).
Payment Method
Credit card, bank transfer, TransferWise, etc.
Course / Event Details
- Course Content
- 2-3 Pre-arrival Online Lectures:
- Lecture on Kurume Kasuri
- Lecture on creating designs
- 35-Day Stay at Sakata Orimono (25 workdays, 2 days off per week on Sundays and Mondays)
- Thread preparation - 2 days
- Tying - 14 days
- Dyeing - 2 days
- Drying, untying, weft arrangement, and winding - 3 days
- Hand-weaving - 4 days
- 1 Post-return Online Lecture (optional based on participant’s preference)
- Methods if participants take thread back with them
- Lecture on creating ikat with warp and weft
- Worldwide ikat traditions
- Live-streamed weaving session using remaining threads
- 2-3 Pre-arrival Online Lectures:
After Completion
A certificate with a stamp will be issued upon course completion.
Meeting Location
- Orige (Accomodation)
Transportation from the nearby station to Orige is not provided. However, we can arrange a taxi upon request. Please pay the taxi fare directly to the driver.
Facilities
- Workshop for on-site production: 602 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Accommodation during stay: 30-2 Yoshitsune, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Mode of Transportation: We provide bicycles (cross bikes) as a means of transportation between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono.The bicycles can be used throughout your stay for traveling between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono. If you prefer a different mode of transportation, please let us know in advance.
Duration
35 days
Age Requirement
18 years and older
Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship: Standard Course-15 Days
In this program, participants stay for 15 days at Sakata Orimono, an ambitious Kurume Kasuri workshop, and create a piece using one of Sakata Orimono's designs. They will dye pre-tied threads prepared in advance by Sakata Orimono with indigo, and then weave them into Kurume Kasuri fabric. (Unlike the 35-day course, which includes the tying process that takes about two weeks, this course provides only a one-day experience of the tying process.) Participants can also enjoy wearing a yukata made from Kurume Kasuri.
Before and after their stay, participants will attend online lectures by Kazuo Sakata, the head of Sakata Orimono, to deepen their learning and insights beyond their stay. A certificate of completion for the "Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship Experience" is awarded upon completion.
This course condenses the essence of the 35-day course into fewer than half the time, allowing participants to experience much of what the longer program offers.
Available Dates (Period) / Exclusion Dates (Period)
Available year-round
Price
487,000 JPY (Net) :: :The price is per person for groups of two or more participants.
Inclusions & Optional Menu
Inclusions:
Tuition fee, material costs, accommodation (Guest House Orige), interpretation fees (limited to those related to the course), transportation (airport to accommodation), bicycle rental fee (to commute by bicycle from the accommodation to Sakata Orimono), and yukata dressing experience.
Exclusions:
Travel expenses, meals, international shipping costs, and anything not included above.
Optional Menu:
Craft tours of other Kurume Kasuri workshops or nearby Yame-based workshops for paper lanterns, Yame washi (Japanese paper), wooden buckets, incense, etc. (Additional charges apply)
Payment Method
Credit card, bank transfer, TransferWise, etc.
Course/Event Details
Curriculum
· Pre-arrival online lecture (one session):
Introduction to Kurume Kasuri and design selection
In-person in Japan (15 days, 10 working days, with weekends off)
- Tying (1 day; demonstration-based tying experience)
- Dyeing (2 days)
- Drying, thread untying, weft arranging, spool winding (3 days)
- Hand weaving (4 days)
· Post-arrival online lecture (one session): Participants can choose one of the following topics based on their preference:
- Global ikat techniques
- Live demonstration of weaving using the remaining threads
Meeting Location
- Orige (Accomodation)
Transportation from the nearby station to Orige is not provided. However, we can arrange a taxi upon request. Please pay the taxi fare directly to the driver.
Facility/Transportation Used
- Workshop during stay: 602 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Accommodation during stay: 30-2 Yoshitsune, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Mode of Transportation: We provide bicycles (cross bikes) as a means of transportation between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono.The bicycles can be used throughout your stay for traveling between the accommodation and Sakata Orimono. If you prefer a different mode of transportation, please let us know in advance.
Duration
15 days
Age Requirement
18 years and older
Capacity
Up to 3 participants per session, with a monthly intake of up to 6 people.
Kurume Kasuri Apprenticeship: Short Course-2 Days
In this program, participants will spend two days at the dynamic Kurume Kasuri workshop "Sakata Orimono," experiencing the primary processes of Kasuri—binding, indigo dyeing, and weaving. Participants will create a handkerchief-sized Kurume Kasuri piece based on designs inspired by the Japanese traditional calendar. Additionally, participants may dye Kasuri stoles during the indigo dyeing experience.
*Note: This program focuses on experiencing each process rather than binding, dyeing, and weaving one’s own thread.
Participants can also enjoy a yukata-wearing experience using Kurume Kasuri.
Before the stay, there will be an online session introducing the traditional culture and craft tours around the Sakata Orimono area.
Available Date:
Available year-round
Program Price
Price: 84,000 JPY :::The price is per person for groups of two or more participants.
What’s Included in the Price / Optional Menu Options:
Included:
- Course fee
- Materials cost
- Accommodation (Guesthouse Orige)
- Interpretation fee (limited to program-related interpretation)
- Transportation costs (airport to accommodation)
- Yukata dressing experience
Not Included:
- Travel expenses to Japan
- Meals
- Transportation from the accommodation to Sakata Orimono
- Anything not listed above
Optional Menu:
Craft tours to other Kurume Kasuri workshops and nearby workshops such as Yame lanterns, Yame paper, wooden barrels, incense, etc., can be arranged (additional charges apply).
Payment Methods:
Credit card, bank transfer, TransferWise, etc.
Course/Event Details:
Program Details:
• One online session before arrival in Japan:
Lecture on local traditional culture and craft tours
• Two in-person days during the stay:
① Half-day: Binding and dyeing (demonstration-based experience, including dyeing a stole)
② Full-day: Weaving (participants weave a handkerchief-sized design based on the Japanese zodiac, which will be framed and given to them. Overseas shipping is also available later.)
• After participants return home, a completed length of fabric woven from leftover threads will be shipped overseas at a later date.
Transportation:
Transportation from the accommodation to Sakata Orimono is not provided. However, we can arrange a taxi upon request. Please pay the taxi fare directly to the driver.
Facility/Transportation Used
- Workshop during stay: 602 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Accommodation during stay: 30-2 Yoshitsune, Hirokawa-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture
Duration:
2 days
Age Requirement:
18 years or older
Capacity:
Maximum of 3 participants at a time
Monthly capacity: 6 participants
For tabletop loom experiences with smaller sizes, more than 4 participants may be accommodated. Please inquire for details.
HOUSING
Participants in the Kurume Kasuri Residency Program stay at a local housing facility called Orige. The name Orige, meaning "my house" in the local dialect, reflects the welcoming and home-like atmosphere of the residence.
This traditional Japanese house has been thoughtfully renovated to provide comfort while preserving its authentic charm. Staying at Orige feels like returning to your own home, offering a sense of belonging and connection to the local culture.
Located close to Sakata Orimono, where the program takes place, Orige is convenient and allows participants to fully immerse themselves in the experience. The residence is equipped with a kitchen, enabling participants to prepare their own meals, adding to the homely and flexible environment.
Orige truly provides an ideal and welcoming space for program participants to relax and engage with the local community.