We prepared sukumo.

Today, we started preparing sukumo.

After the indigo harvest, we had about 80 kilograms in total, including the dried leaves that we had saved and those that various people had grown. The work of cultivating, drying, and reducing the indigo to just the leaves is very difficult.

We couldn't have produced this much on our own, so we are extremely grateful to everyone who helped grow it.

In order to ferment properly over the next three months, we will create a warm "sukumo room." This method was taught to us by Mr. Minato, an indigo dyeing teacher from Ono City, Fukui Prefecture.

The bottom is a piece of plywood with an electric blanket attached, and the surrounding area is made of rice husks filled with bags of insulation. A mat is laid out around that.

Then, we sprinkle water on the dried indigo leaves and pile them up one by one. Today, some people came from far away to help us, which was very helpful!

When the leaves are piled up to about waist height, we check the situation.

Since we need to keep it warm, we place mats on top and in front to stop any drafts from getting in.

We will now check the temperature every day. Once the pile has shrunk to a certain size, we will add the remaining 30 kg and start fermentation again.

The goal is to keep it at 60 to 65 degrees, so to achieve that we turn the pot around to let in oxygen, pour water on it when it gets dry, or add blankets if it gets cold. We try all sorts of things.

I thought that the indigo dyeing was over and I was able to take a break, but I need to be on my toes again from now on. I feel like I have a new child.

I will use all my hands and my heart to help the leaves that we all grow produce the best color possible.

It is truly mysterious and wonderful how these leaves turn indigo as they go through this process, and I always admire indigo.

That's right, frost fell on the day we were preparing the sukumo. The leaves in Itoshiro are starting to turn red, and the nearby mountains are finally getting ready for winter.

The beautiful autumn weather is deepening. Our main store will also be closed until the end of October . I feel a little sad, but I am looking forward to meeting new people at exhibitions outside of our region this winter, so I will continue to work hard on preparations.