Seiko House Hall will be hosting the "Traditional Dyeing and Weaving of Shuri: A Two-Person Exhibition by Yuko Tamanaha and Kyoko Taira" from Friday, May 22nd to Monday, June 1st.
Okinawan textiles convey the aesthetic sensibilities of the Ryukyu Kingdom to the present day.
The exhibition brings together the dignified and powerful bingata dyeing of Mr. Tamanaha Yuko, a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Bingata" (Living National Treasure), and the delicate colors and luster of the beautiful nigashi bashofu (boiled banana fiber cloth) of Ms. Taira Kyoko, who was born in Nago City and grew up surrounded by bashofu.
Please take this opportunity to view the many works by these two artists, which weave together the traditions of Shuri with modern creativity.
◎Nigashi bashofu is a type of bashofu made using a technique where the fibers are boiled in wood ash lye, refined, and then dyed and woven. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, only members of the Ryukyu royal family and clans of high rank were permitted to wear it.
[Yuko Tamanaha]
Bingata obi "Yuki Tsumugi fabric, sprout pattern"
Indigo-dyed obi sash "Yaeyama Jofu fabric with shrimp pattern"
[Kyoko Taira]
Nine-inch "Boiled Rice – Evening Grove"
Kimono fabric "Boiled yarn, waves of light"
[Yuko Tamanaha x Kyoko Taira]
Bingata obi "Kushi banana fiber fabric, deigo and butterfly pattern"
Bingata obi "Kushino bashofu 8-inch fabric with bashomaru pattern"
Tamanaha Yukou's brief biography
Born in 1936 in Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture.
In 1962, he studied Ryukyu bingata under Mr. Eiki Shiroma.
In 1975, he won the Silver Prize at the 10th Western Craft Exhibition and was selected for the first time at the 22nd Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition.
1977: Received the Gold Prize at the 12th Western Craft Exhibition.
1978: Received the Encouragement Award at the 25th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
1985: Received the 20th Anniversary Special Award at the 20th Western Craft Exhibition.
1991: Received the Minister of Education Award at the 38th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
1995: Received the 30th Anniversary Special Award at the 30th Western Craft Exhibition.
In 1996, she was designated a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Bingata" (Living National Treasure).
Honorary Citizen of Ishigaki City in 1997
Received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 1998.
In 2000, at the G8 Summit (Kyushu-Okinawa Summit), there was an exhibition and demonstration of Bingata dyeing.
2003: Production of the Bingata curtain for the National Theatre Okinawa.
Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2006.
Honorary Citizen of Yomitan Village, 2007
2014 Ishigaki Airport Terminal Stained Glass Public Art "Yaeyama: A Land of Shining Life" Original Design
Kyoko Taira's brief biography
Born in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture in 1952.
In 1987, I studied banana fiber weaving as a trainee at the Ogimi Village Banana Fiber Weaving Hall (for about 10 years).
Afterward, she joined a banana fiber weaving workshop in Kijoka and became involved in the production of banana fiber cloth.
In 2008, she became independent and began making boiled banana fiber cloth in Kushi, expressing her own unique sensibilities.
[Comment from Kyoko Taira]
I started making banana fiber cloth because I was attracted to the fact that I could handle everything from making the yarn to dyeing, weaving, and finishing. Fortunately, both my grandmother and mother wove banana fiber cloth (for personal use), and we are also farmers, so I planted banana plants soon after I started learning. Since we live in a mountain village, there is no salt damage, making it suitable for growing banana plants.
For dyeing, we use plants and trees gathered from nearby fields and mountains to create a variety of colors, and for weaving, we prioritize factors such as temperature and humidity. Since banana fiber is a gift from nature, we value creating each step of the process in a way that is natural and harmonious.
"Dyeing and Weaving Techniques Passed Down in Shuri: A Two-Person Exhibition by Yuko Tamanaha and Kyoko Taira"
Friday, May 22, 2026 – Monday, June 1, 2026
Venue: Seiko House Hall (6th floor, Seiko House, 4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
For inquiries, please call: 03-3562-2111 (main number)
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (until 5:00 PM on the last day)
Closed: Open every day Admission: Free Organized by: Wako
◎Wako Hall has changed its name to "Seiko House Hall".
We will be sending out various messages to the world, including exhibitions related to all of the Seiko Group's businesses and collaborative projects with artists.
Opening hours and event schedules are subject to change without notice.
For the latest information, please visit our website.
Homepage
https://www.wako.co.jp/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wako_ginza_tokyo/
Instagram dedicated to art
https://www.instagram.com/art_wako_ginza_tokyo/
[From Wako Co., Ltd. press release ]
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