Kashima Nishiki is said to have originated when Mrs. Atsuko Nabeshima, wife of the ninth lord of Kashima Domain during the Edo period, was captivated by the woven lattice pattern on the ceiling above her sickbed. She consulted her attendants about creating something from it. Responding to her request, her attendants painstakingly wove the lattice pattern using the Kanze-twist technique, crafting items like the case for seals and medicine. Subsequently, successive feudal lord’s wives refined and improved the technique through their ingenuity, passing it down among the women of the Nabeshima domain.

Last year, Akaito collaborated with Professor Ishii and her students of Faculty of Arts and Regional Design, Saga University. They introduced us to the local artists, including the artists of Kashima Nishiki, and we hosted the saffron dye workshop. Using the silk yarn from the workshop, the beautiful Kashima Nishiki fabrics were created.

This year, the Sata University students are organising a new workshop which uses the materials dyed with saffron petals from Akaito and invite local participants of YAMAOSM festival to try “Kumiori” weaving. The mini exhibition of Kashima Nishiki art will be held as well.

The new beauty and value born from the meeting of Kashima’s world-renowned Akaito Saffron® and Kashima Nishiki. We wish to pass this legacy on to the next generation.

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　YAMAOSM Festival

　Date/Time：11:00-16:30, Saturday, November 29th
　Venue：OND CAMP（ 18202-1, Takeo Machi, Takeo-City, Saga Prefecture, 843-0021, Japan)
　　　　https://www.ondpark.jp/
　Host: Saga Prefecture
　Planning/ Operation：YAMAOSM
　Free of Charge, 、Proceed in light rain (cancel if heavy rain)

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Saffron Petal Dyeing Workshop
　60 minutes, book at the site, free of charge

　《Session Schedule》
　　11:30-12:30
　　13:00-14:00
　　14:30-15:30

“Kumiori” Weaving Workshop – with material dyed with Akaito Saffron petals
　60 minutes, 5 people/ session, book at the site, material fee JPY110 for the frame
11:30-16:00 (Walk in at any time)

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YAMAOSM official instagram↓
https://www.instagram.com/yamaosm_saga/

Saga University Press Release

Workshop hosted by Saga University, Faculty of Arts and Regional Design, Prof. Ishii (Student representative: Ms Makoto Soejima)
Cooperation by Yutokuji Museum, Kashima Nishiki Preservation Society, and Akaito

Akaito is going to host the Saffron Dye Workshop using Akaito Saffron®︎ in cooperation with Dr. Mie Ishii and her students of Saga University. The workshop will be held two days on 24 Nov (Sun) and 1 Dec (Sun), at 13:00-16:00. Each session has a capacity of 8 people, on a first-come, first-served basis, with the rest on a waiting list.
We will be dyeing silk threads for weavers of Kashima Nishiki, a traditional Kashima brocade craft, and silk scarves for the general participants. Saffron was used as a luxury dye in Renaissance Europe, where bright yellow saffron-dyed collar decorations and silk stockings were the envy of the people.
The dyeing workshop using luxurious Akaito saffron® is a project unique to Kashima, where it is produced. Please join us at this unique opportunity.

For the details, please see below as well as the Press Release from Saga University (Japanese only).

Apply to：mishii@cc.saga-u.ac.jp　（Ishii Lab, Faculty of Art and Regional Design, Saga University）

Saffron harvest season is expected to be late November. Each session is limited to 6 people, first-come first-serve. Book now from the blue application button below!

Visitor Week：Nov. 20th, 2024 (Wed)  –  Nov.29th, 2024 (Fri)　（※ 23rd PM, 24th, 25th have been booked/kept for an event.）

Morning Session   10:00-12:00
Afternoon Session   14:00-16:00

Location: Akaito Estate
Address: 1111 Mikawachi, Kashima, Saga, Japan

Access: About 50 minutes by car from Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport, or 15 minutes by car from JR Hizen Kashima Station.

Fee: Adult (Age 18 or above) JPY1,800 / Children (Age 7-17) JPY1,000円 / Young Children (Age 0-6) Free of charge

Program:
1) Lecture: Introduction of Saffron in Japan and Akaito
2) Short walk: Guide to the field and hut
3) Flower picking
4) Harvesting the saffron stigmas

※ Please send the application form from above blue button. After submission, you will be contacted by email for confirmation and your booking will be finalised.

• If you need local transportation, we can introduce you to the local agency / taxi company.

• In Kashima city, there are various local tourist attractions, such as Sake Brewery Street (酒蔵通り), Yutoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稲荷神社) – one of the three major shrines in Japan. Check it out more at this LINK. 　
  
• Refreshments will be provided.
  
• Saffron dye workshops will be held on Sunday, Nov.24th and Sunday, Dec.1st. Information to be coming soon!