Traditional craft
Honshiozawa
本塩沢
A smooth, crinkled silk crepe from Shiozawa in Niigata, long known as Shiozawa Omeshi, with fine cross and tortoise-shell ikat.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 15 December 1976
- Type
- Woven textiles
- Region
- Chubu
- Official name in Japanese
- 本塩沢
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 南魚沼市
Silk with a dry, cool touch
Honshiozawa is a raw-silk ikat with a crinkled surface called shibo. It feels smooth and dry against the skin, and its small cross and tortoise-shell patterns are known for their elegance. It is made in Minamiuonuma in Niigata, alongside Shiozawa Tsumugi.
Twisted hard, then kneaded
The steps are design, dyeing, making the ikat thread, weaving and finishing. The weft is given a very hard twist, and after weaving the cloth is kneaded in hot water so the crinkle stands up.
Ramie know-how, applied to silk
Honshiozawa dates from the mid-Edo period. It grew out of silk chijimi, which borrowed the crinkle technique of Echigo's famous ramie cloth and used it on silk.
Good to know
- If you visit in early spring, look out for yukizarashi: lengths of cloth laid out on the snow to bleach in the sun, a local seasonal sight.
- Its dry touch makes Honshiozawa a favourite for early summer kimono.
Questions travellers ask
What was Honshiozawa called before?
It was widely known as Shiozawa Omeshi.
How does Honshiozawa get its crinkle?
The weft is twisted very tightly, and the woven cloth is kneaded in hot water, which makes the crinkle rise.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.