[Press Release] Wearing the wisdom and spirit of traditional Japanese clothing: A gallery project by Itoshiro Clothing Store in 2024: Folk clothing that paves the way for the future - What we've learned from Shibusawa folklore
Wear the wisdom and spirit of traditional Japanese clothing
Gallery project for Ishiteshiro Clothing Store in 2024
Folk clothing paving the way to the future - What we learned from Shibusawa folklore studies -
A talk event celebrating the publication of Toshikazu Shibusawa's "Forest and Abacus" will be held on July 14th.
Itoshiro Clothing Store is located in Itoshiro, Gifu Prefecture, a small mountain village 700 meters above sea level that has existed since the Jomon period. The store reproduces clothing made for farm work, with straight-cut fabric that uses almost no wasted fabric, and continues to create products every day in order to pass on the ``beauty of utility'' and ``beauty of form'' as well as the spirituality that lies within them to the next generation.
Because Itoshiro is a region that receives heavy snowfall, the store is closed from November to April, and the main store is only open for six months from the end of April to the end of October, which is the best season. Every year during the operating period, a gallery exhibition is held, and this year's exhibition is titled "Folk Clothing that Opens the Future - What We Learned from Shibusawa Folklore."
Shibusawa folklore studies is a term we coined after being impressed by and empathizing with the stance on folklore shared by the three successors of Shibusawa Eiichi: Shibusawa Keizo (1896-1963), Miyamoto Tsuneichi (1907-1981), and Shibusawa Juichi (1952-). We are exhibiting our thoughts on the spirituality and stance on folklore shared by these three people who have worked hard to preserve the diverse and rich Japanese culture and lifestyle. In addition, we will be holding a talk event on July 14th to commemorate the publication of Shibusawa Juichi's new book, "Forest and Abacus," which was released at the end of May this year.
Keizo Shibusawa and Folklore
Keizo Shibusawa, the grandson of Eiichi Shibusawa, was a leading figure in the Japanese economy, serving as Governor of the Bank of Japan and Minister of Finance, but he also had a deep knowledge of folklore. He founded the Attic Museum to study local toys and other things, and is said to have built the foundations of Japanese folklore.
Tsuneichi Miyamoto and Itoshiro
Miyamoto Tsuneichi, a folklorist and rural development practitioner, was favored by Shibusawa Keizo and walked around farming, mountain and fishing villages all over Japan. In fact, he visited Itoshiro twice for research, as recorded in "Echizen Itoshiro Folklore." Miyamoto Tsuneichi's writings are filled with respect, admiration, and sometimes sadness for the regions, people and cultures he visited.
"Oral writing" taught by Toshikazu Shibusawa
"Kikigaki" brings to light the emotions of people that have not been recorded in local history or historical books. It is not about whether the facts are correct, but about how a person felt, thought, and understood the land as they lived. Kikigaki is not just about learning knowledge or facts. It was Shibusawa Toshikazu, the great-grandson of Shibusawa Keizo, who taught us what kikigaki is that led to the founding of the current Itoshiro Clothing Store. Through kikigaki, we learned about the "folk clothing" worn by Itoshiro's ancestors, who were constantly trying and failing to live better, and learned about the wisdom of life and the state of mind. Shibusawa Toshikazu's new book "Forest and Abacus" also mentions Itoshiro Clothing Store.
By focusing on traditional straight line cutting, dyeing with plants and indigo dyeing using local Itoshiro plants, and continuing to create and pass on traditional folk clothing, Itoshiro Clothing Store sincerely hopes to pass on the timeless "Shibusawa folklore" to the next generation.
■ Overview of the gallery project "Folk Clothing that paves the way to the future - What we learned from Shibusawa folklore studies"
Venue: Itoshiro Clothing Store Main Branch (65-18 Itoshiro, Shiratori-cho, Gujo-shi, Gifu Prefecture)
*We will be open until the end of October in 2024.
*We operate by reservation only, so please make a reservation via the link below.
Reservation request: https://itoshiro.org/products/reservation2024
Summary of the talk event celebrating the publication of "Forest and Abacus" by Toshikazu Shibusawa
Date and time: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Talk event: Doors open at 15:00, starts at 15:30, ends at 17:30
Networking event: Starts at 18:00 and ends at 20:00 Venue: Itoshiro Clothing Store (65-18 Itoshiro, Shiratori-cho, Gujo-shi, Gifu Prefecture)
Participation fee: Talk event 3,000 yen (including one copy of "Forest and Abacus") Networking event 3,000 yen
To apply: https://itoshiro.org/products/talkevent20240714
[Announcement of upcoming domestic exhibitions/business meetings]
Itoshiro Clothing Store POP UP
Date: June 28th (Fri) - June 30th (Sun) 12:00-17:00
Venue: HAGISO (3-10-25 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
https://itoshiro.org/products/20240628talkhagiso
Tetete Business Meeting
Date: June 12th (Wed) - 14th (Fri)
Venue: Spiral 3F, 5-6-23 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Booth number: A-09
https://itoshiro.org/blogs/news/teteteshodankai202406
■About Ishitoshiro Clothing Store
Itoshiro Clothing Store reproduces the traditional work clothes (tatsuke) that have been passed down since the Jomon period in Itoshiro, a small village in Okumino, Gifu Prefecture, and creates clothes with designs that suit modern lifestyles. They collect local plants, dye them with plants and indigo, and are committed to making clothes that make use of natural materials. In recognition of their efforts to revitalize the region through manufacturing, they won the runner-up prize in the 12th Regional Revitalization Awards sponsored by Kyodo News and others in 2022. Itoshiro Clothing Store was selected for "MINGEI: ART WITHOUT HEROS," the largest exhibition in the UK history specializing in Japanese folk art, which is currently being held in London, and is being introduced as an "eco-conscious brand" that symbolizes modern folk art.
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Official site: https://itoshiro.org/
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e-mail: info@itoshiro.org,
TEL/FAX: 0575-86-3808 (Weekdays 10:00-16:00)