Daily Japanese Textile was designed to introduce readers to some of Japan’s myriad textile traditions. Many people have seen long distance pictures of women wearing kimono and men wearing hakama; many have seen photographs of members of the imperial family in ceremonial garb. But textiles cover the breadth of human experience – from the cradle to the grave, from the bedroom to the boardroom – and are influenced by fashion, customs, politics, beliefs, geography, weather and technology.
Daily Japanese Textile is an attempt to show some of the many facets of Japanese material culture through fibers, weaves, dyes, patterns, colors and cuts of cloth, and to put them in a context of daily life. The items shown here have been collected over a period of thirty years with the assistance of many knowledgeable people and much research.
The earliest items date to the 18th century; most date to the 19th and 20th centuries, and were painstakingly made partially or entirely by hand. A very few date to the 21st century, the products of modern technological wizardry.
There is no particular order to the textiles. They are as random as life can sometimes be.
Parts of this collection have been displayed in public exhibitions and published in scholarly journals. Daily Japanese Textile welcomes inquiries from organizations or individuals interested in exhibiting or purchasing the collection.
One textile will be posted every day for 2017.
We hope you will enjoy Daily Japanese Textile.
Contact: dailyjapanesetextile@aol.com
Daily Japanese Textile 
Your “daily Textile” brings me back to my home! It is amazing how you cherish these Japanese beauties and inspires me truly. Thank you very much for sharing your collection.
Looking at your textiles has become a pleasurable part of my daily routine; I grow Japanese maples, and the textiles of course arise from the same fascinating tradition.
I would like to make one suggestion. The text is an important part of the daily presentations, but I find it difficult to read. On my computer, it appears as dark gray type on a black background, and it’s a struggle to read. Would a lighter font be possible?
Thanks so much for making this available to us.
We tried to change the font color when setting up the template, but unfortunately WordPress does not allow any change of font color on this template. Thank you for supporting Daily Japanese Textile!
Please excuse me for mentioning that the link in your latest entry doesn’t work–it goes to a page of instructions about how to create a link.
A pleasure of seeing your site every day is that I never know what to expect. I appreciate the simplicity–a few photos, a small amount of text. It’s a measure of its success that it makes me long for more information. I’m less than a novice when it comes to Japanese textiles. A more knowledgeable person would know when the fabric was produced and how it functioned in the wardrobe. I’d enjoy learning more–a date, something about the history of the fabric–if it wouldn’t interfere with the elegance of the presentations.
No need to reply. Thank you.
There has to be something you can do about the color of tye type. This is extremely difficult to read. Do you have to choice of black type on a white background? I just discovered this blog, I’m deeply interested in Japanese textiiles, and I want to read all of the previous posts. Unfortunately, it just isn’t possible!
i agree with dr otis, above. at minimum a date would be very helpful. no reply needed.
Thank you, Daily Japanese Textile, for bringing magic into my home every morning. As a textile lover, I’ve come to believe Japanese traditional fabrics and garments are the most exquisitely beautiful and creatively exciting in the history of the world. Some of your photos actually bring tears to my eyes! I so much appreciate your research into the use and craftsmanship as well. Some cold winter day I will have to spend an afternoon going through your archives. Just the thought of it makes me smile! You provide a wonderful, generous service to the world in offering so much beauty and inspiration every day. Domo arigatou!
Fantastic blog, I learned so much! But please tell me that “366 days of Japanese textiles for 2012” does not mean you are going to stop in 2013? Please, more Japanese textiles! Thank you so much!
Hello!
your blog is fantastic.
i have a vintage furisode that im trying to figure its roots. can i contact you for help please?
thank you!
I ahve nominated you for an inspiring bloger award
As a new weaver of my handspun yarn I find your blog inspirational: thank you so much for posting these images, especially the very large .jpgs of the fabrics. Some of your comments are food for thought and design planning; I am very taken by the use of clam shells to indicate a single perfect match. I want to weave my husband a shirt with clam shell patterning 🙂
So happy to see your blog again. Loved it the first time around, and am enjoying it again
I have been given lots of kimonos obis and fabric remnants which I use to make clothes or textile art. I have just discovered you so I am really looking forward to learning about the textiles. Thank you. Sylvia
Hi, you may be interested to see the kimono I bought in London recently through this link: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1ZHh9Z
I don’t know much about it except that it appears to be a good quality cotton kimono with stencil dyed warp & wefts with a printed cotton lining. It has been pieced in a somewhat random way with no attempt made to match the patterns together, which seems odd to me, but I love it! I was told it was possibly from the 1930s/40s, so if anyone can tell me any more about it I’d be very grateful. I can add more photos if it helps.
Thanks 🙂
Hello! LOve your blog!
I am a Japanese SAORI weaving working on a collaboration textiles and design project. Please view my kickstarter. I think you all would be very interested in this project. Working with Autistic Japanese weavers and designers in the U.S. Please watch and support!
Thank you for your fascinating and beautiful blog. I have recently discovered it. I admire Japanese art and design, especially textiles. I am inspired every time I look at your postings.
Incredible blog. Are all these textiles in your hands or have you copied them from other sites? Just wondering. I especially love mid-century textiles.The Japanese interpretation of this period of design is just amazing.
Just wanted to thank you for this beautiful, informative body of work! I am a bit of a fabriholic myself ~ of course that inevitably led to collecting the incomparable Japanese textiles. I am often stunned by the sheer amount of dedication to perfection that is so apparent in them. I only wish the Japanese themselves put more value on their amazing cultural heritage.
Hi! If I’m not mistaken, this is the same series of posts which I so greatly enjoyed a few years back. Am I correct about this? If so, I believe I had a brief email flurry with you just as you were ending the project. I was delighted to find you again. Will you be continuing in 2016, or will last year’s posts be accessible for a while so I can get caught up? I only just found you again on Jan. 5, 2016. What a pity!
This is one often most wonderful, informative and beautiful blogs I have ever come across! Thank you! I especially like how you contextualise the motifs of the Meissen kimonos! I often find them harsh to look at, but they carry the story of a really interesting, culturally turbulent time, and deserve to be spoken about!
I have a some thoughts about the Japanese textile productions that I would be thrilled if e you could address, if at all possible now that the blogging year is over: when I have researched th print designs and dyers of kimono, they are most often men. The weavers and tailors are most often women. Is this representative, or is it particular to the material I have happened to come across? Have there been exceptions? I would be thrilled with any answers or pointers to where I can find out more.
Many thanks for this beautiful blog.
just wanted to check in here and say hello- still love this site even though it’s no longer being updated. Happy New Year!