Okinawa Studies Research Guide: Textiles

Currently, there are 13 Okinawan textiles designed as traditional crafts by the Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業大臣指定伝統的工芸品).

The 1 Okinawan textiles as well as the links to their cooperative associations are as follows:

1. Kumeshima Tsumugi / 久米島紬 (Kumeshima Tsumugi Cooperative Association / 久米島紬事業協同組合: Japanese )

2. Shuri Ori  / 首里織 (Naha Traditional Textiles Cooperative Association / 那覇伝統織物事業協同組合: Japanese )

3. Chibana Hanaori / 知花花織 (Chibana Hanaori Cooperative Association/ 知花花織事業協同組合: Japanese)

4. Haebaru Hanaori / 南風原花織  (Ryuku Kasuri Cooperative Association / 琉球絣事業協同組合 : Japanese )

5. Kijoka no Bashofu / 喜如嘉の芭蕉布 (Kijioka no Bashofu Preservation Society / 喜如嘉の芭蕉布保存会: Japanese)

6. Ryukyu Kasuri (Ryukyu Ikat) / 琉球絣 (Ryuku Kasuri Cooperative Association / 琉球絣事業協同組合: English / Japanese )

7. Miyako Jofu / 宮古上布 (Miyako Jofu Cooperative Association / 宮古織物事業協同組合: Japanese)

8. Ryukyu Bingata / 琉球紅型 (Ryukyu Bingata Business Cooperative / 琉球びんがた事業協同組合 : Japanese)

9. Yaeyama Jofu / 八重山上布 (石垣市織物事業協同組合 / 竹富町織物事業協同組合)

10. Yaeyama Minsa / 八重山ミンサー (石垣市織物事業協同組合 / 竹富町織物事業協同組合)

11. Yonaguni Ori / 与那国織 (Yonaguni Traditional Textiles Cooperative Association / 与那国町伝統織物協同組合: Japanese )

12. Yuntanza Hanaui / 読谷山花織 (Yuntaza Hanaui Cooperative Association / 読谷山花織事業共同組合: English / Japanese)

13. Yomitan Minsa / 読谷山ミンサー ( Yuntaza Hanaui Cooperative Association / 読谷山花織事業共同組合: English / Japanese) 

Brochure '沖縄の工芸' published by Okinawan Prefectural Government

Okinawan fabric with a fresh green and sunny yellow color is Uji zome (ウージ染め) in Tomigusuku City. Uji means sugar cane in the Okinawan dialect, and Uji Zome uses sugar cane as a dyeing color.

Similar to aloha shirts in Hawai'i, kariyushi shirts can be worn in summer as casual, informal, or dress wear. In Okinawa, business people wear kariyushi shirts as 'business clothes.'

Information on kariyushi shirts: (available only in Japanese)

• Cabinet Office / 内閣府 :「かりゆしウェアの定義・歴史」
• Okinawa Prefectural Government / 沖縄県 :「かりゆしウェアとは」, statistics on kariyushi wear production, and history on kariyushi wear 

In Okinawa

Outside Okinawa

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