Yamato Co., Ltd. Conveying the charm of Okinawan traditional textile “Minsa obi” – 10th Minsa obi competition held at Shinpukan, Kyoto –

[Yamato Co., Ltd.] Conveying the charm of Okinawan traditional textile “Minsa obi” – 10th Minsa obi competition held at Shinpukan, Kyoto – ​
Yamato Co., Ltd. Press release: April 17, 2025 [Yamato Co., Ltd.] Conveying the charm of Okinawan traditional textile “Minsa obi” – 10th Minsa obi competition held at Shinpukan, Kyoto – Period: Friday, May 2, 2025 to Monday, May 5, 2025 Yamato Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Takayuki Yajima) and Kimono-no-Mori Foundation (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Takayuki Yajima) will hold an exhibition and competition of Okinawan traditional textile “Minsa obi” at Shinpukan in Kyoto.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/15937/219/15937-219-0112735d911ff5dbd2d2b7b560924534-1920×1280.jpg At this event, 84 minsa obi made of 100% natural dyes hand-woven in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa Prefecture will be on display. Works will be judged through voting by visitors, and creators will be awarded based on the number of votes they receive. Through this initiative, we aim to revitalize production areas and improve the skills of producers. ■10th Minsa Obi Competition Event Overview [Event period] May 2, 2025 (Friday) – May 5, 2025 (Monday) 11:00-20:00 (last day – 18:00) [Venue] Kyoto Shinpūkan POPUP SPACE “SPOT” 586-2 Banomachi, Karasuma-dori Anekoji-shita, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8172 [Contents] 84 hand-woven minsa obis will be exhibited and visitors will be able to vote. Please vote for your favorite work by writing the number on the paper. Ranking will be determined based on the number of votes received, and the award ceremony will be held at the production area at a later date. Results will be announced in late June on the official websites of Yamato Co., Ltd. and the
Kimono-no-Mori Foundation. [Sponsored by] Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture Additionally, at the Minsa Obi Competition venue, “Bashofu”, also known as “phantom cloth” made in Okinawa, will be exhibited along with the tools and materials used. Please come to Shinpūkan during Golden Week to experience the charm of Okinawa’s manufacturing. ● Background and thoughts behind the event The “Minsa Obi Contest” was started in 2013 in order to pass on the Okinawan textile “Minsa Obi”, which has a history of about 400 years, to the next generation. This commemorative 10th edition will be held at Shinpūkan in Kyoto during Golden Week, coinciding with Minsa Day on May 4th, so that more people can see it. In Kyoto, where there is a strong interest in tradition and handicrafts, we believe this will be a valuable opportunity to convey the charm of Minsa obi to people not only in Japan but also around the world.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/15937/219/15937-219-9e1290dd20531822abac5c5a61482b1c-1980×1321.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/15937/219/15937-219-21912ccaa90c629d35f12a6d6643811f-1980×1321.jpg ● What is Mincer belt “Minsa” is a traditional Okinawan textile that refers to a “narrow” (sa) obi woven from “cotton” (min). They are mainly produced in the Yaeyama Islands, such as Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island, and Iriomote Island, and are entirely hand-woven using cotton yarn dyed with natural dyes extracted from plants that grow naturally on the islands. The characteristic Kasuri pattern has five and four ■ (squares) lined up, representing “when” (five) and “world” (four), respectively. It is said that the women of the island used to weave it as a gift for their loved ones, as it symbolizes the idea of ​​“friendship lasting forever.” The “feeling of caring for others” contained in this obi is a universal message that resonates with the hearts of many people even today.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/15937/219/15937-219-6af0a9b739fd1d1da89039d20fc8544f-656×312.jpg ● Regarding last year’s competition results When the event was held at Shinpūkan in Kyoto last year, many people participated, from those who had gotten the information in advance through newspapers and social media to those who stopped by while passing by. A total of 562 people participated in the voting over 5 days, and we received a great response with a total of 1,684 votes (approximately 3 votes per person). ■For the 9th Minsa Belt Competition survey report, click here Click here URL:
https://www.kimono-yamato.co.jp/about-us/news/ymt_240612/ ■9th Minsar Belt Competition Results Click here URL:
https://www.kimono-yamato.co.jp/articles/9th_minsar_competition2024/ [Reference site] Yamato Minsar Obi Month
■About Yamato Co., Ltd. Founded in 1917. Based on the philosophy of “co-creation – together with customers, communities, and society,” and with the vision of “creating an exciting world with kimonos,” we operate 78 stores nationwide under four brands: “Kimono Yamato,” “KIMONO ARCH,” “Y. & SONS,” and “THE YARD.” We have cherished the connections we have built with traditional production areas throughout Japan since our founding, and have created a system for training successors, carefully manufactured products, and sold them at reasonable prices. Yamato will continue to believe that kimonos have infinite possibilities and will continue to take on the challenge of increasing people’s positive feelings. ・Official Site
https://www.kimono-yamato.co.jp/ ・Instagram @yamato_kimonodreammakers ■About Kimononomori General Incorporated Foundation In 1978, we established the predecessor general incorporated foundation, the Garment Research Promotion Association. The company aims to inherit and develop kimono-related techniques, and changed its name to its current name in 2017. Up until now, we have supported the training of successors to weavers and weavers in production areas such as Amami and Arimatsu. Starting in 2025, we will begin supporting Pachi Pachi, a collaborative Basho cloth workshop established in Kijoka, Okinawa Prefecture, with the aim of passing on Basho cloth techniques. We will continue to carry out activities to promote Japanese clothing from various angles so that people around the world can enjoy kimono culture. ・Official Site https://kimononomori.com/