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The
Iga Hakuo School of Japanese Braiding
and Hirai Kanezo Store |
 @Human
beings learned to braid long before they found how to weave. It's
been the essential to human life since then. The technique of
the Japanese Braiding has long history and said to have been introduced
from the Asian Continent in 6th century. This can be proved from
words like "Kara-kumi (Tang Braid)" or "Korai-kumi
(Koguryo Braid)". Also the same braid as the scrap Dr. Stein
found in the desert during his Central Asian expedition in 1904
are preserved in the Shosoin treasury (8th century) as a cord
for an ancient musical instrument "Kugo"
At first, braids were used for Buddhist or Shinto altar fittings, then, were
used as cords for Japanese tea sets or fittings of the aristocracy.
After the raise of the Samurai, braids were used as cords
of armor or swords.
As such, the technique of the tradition has been handed down through
years.
The braiding production of Iga-Ueno started at Edo era (17c-19c),
the Samurai government years. However, when Samurai lost it political
power, the demand for braids also reduced dramatically and production
and techniques of the braiding in Iga had been lost through years.
In the begging of 20th century, a man called Tokusaburo Hirosawa
revived the braiding in Iga-Ueno bringing back the technique from
Tokyo. The new braiding has been producing braids for Kimono,
and since Iga is close to Kyoto, the biggest consuming region,
it has grown drastically since then.
Ikutaro
Hirai, a founder of the Iga Braiding and the
second owner of Hirai Kenzo Store, learned the braiding technique
from Tokusaburo, and produced high-class braids. The technique
was inherited to his sun Kihachi who carried on the tradition adding his artistic sensitivity to
create the new braiding art. He formed "The Iga Hakuo School
of Japanese Braiding" in 1975, and this has been a unique
technique of Hirai Kenzo Store.
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History of the
Hirai Kanezo Store
and the Iga Braiding |
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A prejudice of
yarns
iKihachi Hiraij |
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The
Best Products of the Exhibition.
28'th "The
Iga Hakuo School of Japanese Braiding Exhibition"
Hirai Kanezo Store
with 90 Years of Tradition |
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 In
the west of Ueno City, near the old
crossing sign of the Ise Way and the Nara Way (Kagiya-no-Tsuji),
we produce the high-class braids with the traditional technique
and the modern art.
The forth owner, Takeo
Hirai is continuously developing broader range
of braiding products for fashion to interior, as well as traditional
Kimono accessories. Thanks to the modern braiding machines, we have
developed the new and elegant Iga Braiding with a tradition and
a fresh sense. We endeavor to heritage the tradition and to seek
the possibilities
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Opened at Oharai-machi area where
old-established stores stand in a row.
Please stop by along a tour to the Ise Grand Shrine. |
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Information available from the production to
works of the traditional Iga Braiding.
We also sale braids and other braiding works here. |
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| Hirai Kanezo Store co.ltd |
TEL. 0595-21-0666
TEL.0595-23-2901
FAX. 0595-21-9400
E-mail:hirai@dento.gr.jp |
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