Kijoka Bashofu

Bashofu cloth is made from the fibers of the Okinawan ito-basho, a variety of banana. For centuries this weaving tradition thrived among people of all walks of life on the islands, until it nearly died out with the changes in lifestyle following World War II . Here in the village of Ogimi at Kijoka, noted for its bashofu production from before the war, local women led by Toshiko Taira have put their passion and dedication into reviving the art, working together to hand down its techniques to this day. All-natural in material, Kijoka Bashofu is produced by group effort through every stage of process, from cultivating the fiber to finishing the woven cloth. The thread is dyed prior to weaving using a hand-bound resit method known as ikat, which enjoys a long legacy in Okinawa. Richly evocative of the southern islands, the fabric has won high praise well beyond its home. Kijoka Bashofu was designated a national Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1974, a recognition awarded to the Association for the Preservation of Kijoka Bashofu as a group. Association leader Toshiko Taira was individually distinguished as the guardian of this important cultural asset, an honor popularly known as "Living National Treasure," in 2000.