In Shiga Prefecture, home to Japan's largest freshwater lake, the millennium-old tradition of kakishibu-zome dyeing with persimmon juice persists. Amid the sweltering heat of a summer greenhouse, fabrics absorb the natural dye, embodying sustainable craftsmanship. Second-generation textile worker Kiyoshi Omae shares its subtle benefits.
Shiga Prefecture has long thrived as a production center for persimmon tannin dyeing, thanks to Japan's largest freshwater lake. On a hot summer day in July, the temperature inside a greenhouse in the prefecture reaches nearly 45 degrees Celsius. Amid the humidity, the deep burnt orange of kakishibu—persimmon juice—settles into the threads of 30-meter lengths of fabric laid out to dry.
Through sun exposure and repeated immersion in containers of the natural dye, the textiles gain a light amber tone before developing a darker gradient, used for trousers, shirts, and jackets. This is kakishibu-zome, a natural dyeing method from kaki (Japanese persimmons) used in Japan for more than a millennium, as second-generation textile worker Kiyoshi Omae explains. “You don’t notice its function,” Omae says. “It is like an unseen barrier that creates a kind of protection and filter for the air.”
The tradition highlights sustainable Japanese crafts, with keywords like Japanese crafts, textiles, and rural life underscoring Shiga's cultural heritage. Sun-drying and natural materials ensure an eco-friendly process that preserves this ancient art.