Indigo Dyeing Workshop: From Field to Fermentation (Monthly sessions from May to October)

Indigo dyeing begins with sowing seeds in a field.

That beautiful indigo color is created from the soil of the field. It starts with seeds and ends with seeds. Indigo dyeing has been continued as part of a farming lifestyle.

It is a mystical and truly不思議な dyeing process, so if you are interested in indigo dyeing, want to try dyeing, or are interested in dyeing from the field, please join us.

Also, for those who want to grow indigo themselves, we will distribute seeds. Please try growing indigo even a little, in a field or at the corner of your garden. We would be happy if you could continue to connect the seeds.

This project uses a 130-liter pail (large bucket) for dyeing, so it's a size that allows you to set up and manage your own indigo vat even if you don't have a dedicated one.

Please try to attend all sessions. If you are unable to attend for unavoidable reasons, please let us know.

Capacity: 10 people

Participation fee: 42,000 yen (participation fee for all 6 sessions)
(Includes materials for each session, one indigo-dyed tenugui towel, and lunch on the day)

Schedule and Content

1st Session: "Indigo Preparation and Indigo Sowing"
Date and Time: May 6th (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
Content: Indigo preparation, work in the indigo field, talk about indigo cultivation

2nd Session: "Transplanting to the Field and Indigo Dyeing"
Date and Time: June 3rd (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
Content: Indigo dyeing experience (dyeing a tenugui towel), work in the indigo field

3rd Session: "Indigo Dyeing, Indigo Vat Maintenance, and Field Work"
Date and Time: July 1st (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
Content: Work in the indigo field, trying to dye various items (wood, Japanese paper, leather, etc.), maintaining the indigo vat by adding bran

4th Session: "First Indigo Harvest"
Date and Time: August 5th (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
*Schedule may change depending on the weather
Content: Harvesting indigo leaves (sorting by hand), drying work, work in the indigo field

5th Session: "Second Indigo Harvest"
Date and Time: September 2nd (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
*Schedule may change depending on the weather
Content: Harvesting indigo leaves (sorting by machine), drying work, work in the indigo field

6th Session: "Sukumo Preparation"
Date and Time: October 7th (Wednesday) 10:30 AM start, until around 3:00 PM
Content: Sukumo preparation, comprehensive wrap-up session

*If you wish to stay overnight before or after, please let us know and we will introduce you to a guesthouse.

Items to Bring for Each Session

・Clothing that can get dirty
・Beverages
・Rain boots
・Work gloves (or rubber gloves)

*The harvest dates in August and September may vary depending on the weather and growth conditions.
*Those who participated in the 2023, 2024, or 2025 Indigo Leaf Trust or Indigo Workshops can attend any session for free (single sessions) as a review. Please contact us if you wish to participate.

Options

For the 4th and 5th sessions (August and September), if you have something you want to dye, you can dye it. In that case, the dyeing fee will be 20 yen/g + tax. (Please limit to 100g of fabric or yarn per person.) Please inform us in advance. If you wish to dye something weighing over 100g, please note that it will be considered an indigo dyeing order.

Instructor Profile

Mari Furuta:
Fascinated by the mystery of plant colors that hold more than what meets the eye, she began natural dyeing and indigo dyeing. In 2017, when starting indigo dyeing at Itoshiro Yōhinten, she learned fermentation dyeing using lye from Mr. Toshio Kaito and has since been in charge of natural dyeing and indigo dyeing at Itoshiro Yōhinten. In 2018, she learned Honzome natural indigo dyeing from Mr. Koichi Okawa of Konyū in Tochigi Prefecture, and now practices natural indigo dyeing and natural dyeing at her home studio.

Cancellation Policy

※From April 10, 2025, the cancellation policy will be changed as follows. For those who apply on or after April 10, the following cancellation policy will apply.

・Cancellation from application date up to 1 week before the event: 5%
・Cancellation from 6 days to 3 days before the event: 50%
・Cancellation thereafter: Full amount