Coral dyeing will bring you happiness…
------Experience it at the workshop and
Get your original T-shirt, the only one in the world.
A coral reef basked in the sun gives a shining rainbow color to Okinawan sea.
The beautiful sea variegated with blue, green, violet and other colors is considered to be a gift from nature dyed by a coral reef. A coral is said to bring us good luck and happiness from ancient days. In the summer night corals will lay their huge number of eggs under the light of full moon and just like snowfalls under water the mysterious and fantastic scene of the floating eggs can be observed. The eggs associate us with prosperity of descendants and coral’s long life with longevity. The coral dyeing method represents attractiveness of a coral itself.
How was the method of coral dyeing innovated?
Mr. Koto Yamaoka, the late father of Ms. Ooshiro (current president of Shuri Ryusen), was a creator of Kyou-Yuzen dyeing and a researcher of natural plants dyeing. After the World War II Bingata dyeing was restored. However he was very much concerned about its future because the synthetic dyes were used instead of its traditional natural ones. Eventually it caused the serious problem of the colors being easily faded out. In order to solve it Shuri Ryusen started its history when he established the research institute of natural plants dyeing method in 1973. While trying to gain a popularity of Bingata dyeing by using natural materials, they have challenged to innovate the new dyeing method unique to Okinawa. At last they yielded fruit of the coral dyeing method which has been studied for many years by adopting the various ideas derived from the blessings of nature and the rich and blue Okinawan sea. It successfully gives the very gentle and mild impressions to the products. It is a very peculiar method to Shuri Ryusen and copyright is owned by it.
Inheriting the culture of the Kingdom of Ryukyu and hand it down to the next generation.....
After the establishment of the research institute, mentored by Mr. Koto Yamaoka, thousands of plant dyes were researched and examined. Eventually it made a remarkable contribution to enhance the quality of dyes of Bingata dyeing. Shuri Ryusen is located at the remains of Chuzan-mon(Chuzan Gate) which was an entrance leading to the Kingdom of Ryukyu. It was constructed at the place where one of the top three holy priestesses(Ooamushirare) resided who were appointed by the king at that time.
Bingata dyeing, the culture of the kingdom, will be handed down to the next generation
for further development.
How to experience it?
Hours: between 9am and 5pm
Price: JPY3,000 per an adult including materials and JPY2,500 per a child.
The time required: about 40 minutes
The product: Your masterpiece can be taken back home.
Capacity: 5 persons at one time and an advance booking is required.
In case there are more than 5 persons, please ask for possible arrangements at the time of booking.
Materials: 4 options among a T-shirt, an apron, Furoshiki(a wrapping cloth), a tote bag.
Reservation: either by phone or through a booking format on the website.
Shuri Ryusen?
1-54 Yamakawa-cho, Naha City, Okinawa, Japan 903-0825
TEL: 098-886-1131
URL: http://www.shuri-ryusen.com
