Textile capital/Kiryu textiles
Kiryu, the city of textiles
Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, has developed as a textile town since ancient times.
Its history goes back to 1300 years ago, when the silk fabric called"Yellow Ashiginu"was presented to the imperial court at the beginning of the Nara period.
In the Edo period, it came to be called"Nishijin in the west, Kiryu in the east", and it has developed as one of the leading textile producing areas in the world representing Japan.
In the city, the cityscape that conveys the history of industry remains strong, and it is a treasure trove of modern heritage such as Japanese heritage constituent cultural properties, saw-toothed textile factories, and stores made of earthenware.
Kiryu Ori that remains in history
The following are some of the legends left about the beginning of Princess Shirataki.
It was around the time when the area where Kiryu City was located was called Nitayamago, Yamada-gun, Kozuke.
A man from Yamada-gun, Kozuke, who served in the imperial court, fell in love with Shiratakihime, a lady-in-waiting who excels in sericulture and weaving. When the two were tied together, they would return to their hometown. It is said that when Princess Shirataki lived in Kiryu, she passed on the techniques to the villagers, and that became Kiryu Ori.
During the Kamakura period, at the behest of Emperor Go-Daigo, the military commander Nitta Yoshisada, who named a soldier to destroy the Kamakura Shogunate, is said to have used silk woven from Kiryu to make a nobori. These were later restored as the military flag"Nakaguro Koban"and dedicated to Nitta Shrine.
There is also a story that, following the origin of Nitta Yoshisada, who is said to be the ancestor of the Tokugawa family, he contributed to the victory by donating 2410 silk flags at the request of Ieyasu Tokugawa in the Battle of Sekigahara.
The story of Kiryu and textiles that are still spun today
Kiryu woven fabric, which has a soft feel and luster, is widely used in high-class kimonos and obi, tailored items, Japanese accessories, and daily necessities, and has been widely used not only in Japan but also overseas and has been well received.
The traditional culture as a comprehensive textile production center has taken root not only in industry but also in Kiryu as a"manufacturing"culture, and in recent years it has shown new evolution such as the increase in the migration of creators.
In addition to the development of products that match the times, Kiryu City is still attracting attention as a city where you can experience textiles and their culture from various directions, such as sightseeing experiences in kimono and weaving experiences.
