Located in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture, a town historically known for its flourishing salt industry, is a well-known area for Ako Dantsu, a local floor covering designated as a Hyogo Prefecture Traditional Craft. Actively involved in promoting Ako Dantsu crafts is Higashihama Ako Dantsu Rugs Gallery & Studio. This studio is operated by Ikegami, who is also a trumpet instructor and currently creates Dantsu in the town of Ako.
Why did Ikegami begin producing Ako Dantsu? The reason is deeply connected to her memories of her grandmother. This article delves into the history of Ako Dantsu, Ikegami's encounter with it, and the passion she pours into Ako Dantsu.
PROFILE
Right: Kazuko Ikegami
Higashihama Ako Dantsu Gallery & Studio
Born in 1983, she graduated from Kyoto Sangyo University, Faculty of Cultural Studies in 2006, and the trumpet program at New York State University in 2011. In 2012, she learned under Yukari Yanagida at Sakoshi Studio (坂越工房) before becoming independent in 2016, when she established Higashihama Ako Dantsu Gallery & Studio. Since then, she has held exhibitions at cultural centers and Kudan House, and has been featured in media outlets like "Croissant" and "an･an." In 2021, she began creating "Komado Dantsu" and exhibited at Mitsukoshi Isetan and in Korea. In November 2024, a solo exhibition in Paris, France, was planned.
Gallery Higashihama: Presenting the Value of Ako Dantsu
Please tell us about the background of your founding first.
Higashihama Ako Dantsu Gallery & Studio (referred to as Gallery Higashihama) was established in 2016 to produce and sell Ako Dantsu.In this region, Ako Dantsu has long been crafted, and my grandmother was an active weaver of Ako Dantsu.
However, as time passed, Ako Dantsu began to decline, and despite my grandmother's efforts to continue her weaving enterprise, she couldn't overcome the worsening circumstances, and eventually, the operation had to be shut down. As a result, only one person from her workshop remained.
Afterward, Kirie Sakaguchi, who was that surviving craftsman, taught the method of making Ako Dantsu in a course held by Ako City, and it was embraced by the disciples who continue to craft it individually.
I learned the techniques from professor Yukari Yanagida, one of those disciples, and continued preserving and passing on the value of Ako Dantsu through my work with Higashihama. In 2016, I opened a gallery and workshop for Ako Dantsu, starting my activities.
The unique patterns of Ako Dantsu, many of which are auspicious designs called kikkou-mon, are a distinct feature. These traditional patterns are cherished by Gallery Higashihama.
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