A 400-Year Tradition Protected by Generations in Iwate: Nambu Kodai Katazome

2025.08.04

#Artisan

#Craftsperson

#Iwate

#Traditional Crafts

#Nambu Kodai Katazome

#History

#Japanese Culture

#Technique

#Skills Handed Down by Parent and Child

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"Nambu Kodai Katazome" (南部古代型染), a traditional craft passed down for over 400 years in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. The intricate patterns that once adorned samurai garments, and the techniques that continue to be passed down, are preserved today by Ebisuya Onosensaisyo.

Even though the art world has shifted towards specialization, here every step—from stencil carving to dyeing—is carried out exclusively by the hands of artisans. The 18th generation head, Nobuaki Ono, and his successor, Akihiro Ono, the 19th generation, have faced the changing times while steadfastly preserving the techniques and spirit of Nambu Kodai Katazome. We spoke with this father and son about their commitment to inheriting tradition and connecting it to the future.

PROFILE

Left: Nobuaki Ono　Right: Akihiro Ono

Nobuaki Ono

18th Head of Nambu Kodai Katazome "Onosensaisyo"

Born in Morioka City. Studied textile design at university and worked at a design company before joining the family business at age 27, where he handles everything from stencil carving to gluing and dyeing.

Akihiro Ono

Katazome Craftsperson & Company Operations / 19th Generation of Nambu Kodai Katazome "Onosensaisyo"

Born in Morioka City. After graduating university, he worked at a general company, then attended a technical school to study dyeing. He joined the family business at 30, now managing glue application and overall operations. He aims to honor the tradition while introducing designs that appeal to younger generations.

The 400-Year Legacy of Nambu Kodai Katazome

Please tell us about Nambu Kodai Katazome and its characteristics.

Nobuaki: The roots of Nambu Kodai Katazome go back to the Muromachi period. Originally, the technique was used to dye family crests and emblems onto banners, standards, and tent curtains for samurai. Over time, each feudal domain developed its own distinctive Katazome, and intricate patterns began to adorn samurai attire such as Kamishimo, Hakama, and Kosode.

Today's "Nambu Kodai Katazome" began in 1628 (Kanei 5), when Lord Yoshimitsu Nambu of the Nambu family relocated from Nambu-go in Yamanashi Prefecture to Morioka and brought along his official dyer, Sanemon Ebisuya, who established the "Ebisuya" workshop in Morioka.