The film highlights the role of specialists like Isosuke Inoue, who inspects the finished silk for defects. Notably, much of this inspection is done by feel rather than sight to ensure the texture is perfect.
– A masterclass in slow television that stitches time back together.
Shaw notes the eerie similarity to the Jacquard loom that birthed computer programming. "Babbage saw this," Shaw whispers, "he saw holes in cards and thought of mathematics. Here, those holes make a peacock's tail." BBC Handmade in Japan Series 1 2of3 The Kimono ...
The journey from raw silk thread to finished kimono often takes over a year.
The series was produced by the BBC and is often available on BBC iPlayer within the UK, showcasing its excellent series on traditional Japanese crafts, including samurai sword making and pottery. Mud, sweat and fears: The making of a Japanese kimono - BBC The film highlights the role of specialists like
A specialist seamstress finally turns the single bolt of silk into the iconic T-shaped garment . The Modern Struggle
Handmade in Japan is a must-watch for anyone interested in fashion, textiles, Japanese culture, or the enduring value of traditional craftsmanship. Shaw notes the eerie similarity to the Jacquard
It offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the artisans whose techniques have been passed down for generations.
"You don't own a handmade kimono," Shaw concludes. "You look after it for the next generation."
The answer, articulated by a curator at the Tokyo National Museum, is Wabi-Sabi —the Japanese aesthetic of finding beauty in imperfection, transience, and the incomplete.