Shaping and coloring the beauty and activities of nature found in everyday life.

Tegaki Yuzen originated in Kyoto in the late 1600s and is believed to have spread to Edo in the 1800s. As the daimyo (feudal lords) relocated to Edo, the painters in their service also moved, bringing the techniques with them, which have been passed down to the present day.

Mariko Takatori, who runs a workshop in Ome, is one of the artisans and artists who carry on this tradition. In addition to creating products, she also offers various dyeing experiences at schools and other venues. The process of creating a product involves many steps. A typical sequence includes planning, design, shitayunoshi (preparing the fabric), sketching, itomenorioki (applying resist paste), jiire (fabric preparation), yuzen oshi, steaming, paste masking, jiire again, hikizome (hand-pulled dyeing), steaming and washing, kamiyunoshi (final steaming), and finishing.
Each step is delicate and requires full attention, making the process both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Takatori performs these tasks by hand, doing almost all the steps alone. Her products range from kimonos and obis (belts) to accessories like scarves and business card holders. All of her designs are characterized by their charm, reflecting the beauty, stories, and playful elements found in everyday nature and the changing seasons.
Takatori says that motifs and ideas inspired by natural phenomena and life, such as flowers, plants, insects, and small animals, are endless and constantly come to mind, allowing her to continuously create new designs.

Somekobo Takatori
3-541-3, Hinatawada, Ome-shi, Tokyo 198-0046
Tel:+81-428-21-4265
Mariko Takatori