Omi Jofu Traditional Kogei CenterAddress／ Echigawa32-2 Aisho town Echi district Shiga

TEL／ +81 749 42 3216

Email／ info@omi-jofu.com

Omi Jofu

prefecture JAPAN 5291331

Opening Hours ／ 10:00 to 17:00
Closed day／ Mondays, national holidays, year-end andParking／ FreeNew Year holidays, and summer holidays

WEB

A Leading Hemp & Ramie Weaving
Production area in JapanWeb store

Instagram

YoutubeAccess●By Car
KIX

Expressway

Omi Jofu Traditional Kogei Center

Kotosanzan IC The total time required Approx. 2h30mins●By Public TransportKIXApprox.
90min.

JR Kyoto Sta.


JR Hikone Sta.
Approx.
50min.

Ohmi Railway
Echigawa Sta.
Approx.
25min.



Omi Jofu Traditional
Kogei CenterApprox.
5min.

Operated by Shiga Hemp and Ramie Fabric Industry Cooperative

Working on SDGs since Jan 2022

Tradition

What's Omi Jofu?

History

Omi Jofu is a high-quality hemp and ramie fabrics, handwoven in the●

Muromachi period (1333-1573 CE)●

Edo period (1603-1868 CE)●Meiji period to Present

Became a center of hemp and ramie fabric production in Japan.

Koto region of Shiga Prefecture to the east of Lake Biwa, the largest lake
in Japan, where the high humidity and abundance of clean water led to

Developed following promotion of Omi hemp and ramie by the Hikone clan.

the development of hemp and ramie fabric in this region.

Through technological innovation and the establishment of a production
organization that accompanied modernization, the area has continued todevelop as a production center hemp and ramie fabric. In 1977, "Omi Jofu"
was designated as a national traditional craft.

Shiga prefecture

Fukui prefecture

TokyoOsakaGifu prefecture

Uso river
Kyoto prefecture

Echi riverAisho town

Mie prefecture-1-＊R4-087＊*This mark is an approval mark for traditional crafts designated by the Minister of Economy,
Trade and Industry.

-2-

Traditional Kogei

Two types of Omi Jofu

Omi Jofu "Kibira"Omi Jofu "Kasuri"

Kibira is a plain weave, woven by

Kasuri is a handwoven fabric, withhand with hand looms using ramie

ramie threads that have been

threads for the warp and teumicolored using combs and a paper

hemp, handspun yarn of true hemp,

stencil dyeing technique, to create afor the weft.

kasuri pattern in the fabric when

Teumi means spinning the yarn by

woven together.

hand. Tearing the hemp ﬁbers by

There are two types of thread

hand to create very ﬁne ﬁbers anddyeing: comb-pressing dyeing and athen twisting them together topaper stencil dyeing. In comb-press-

form a single thread without knots

ing dyeing, the warp threads areover the time.

dyed by pressing a comb-like tool,

Jibata is a hand loom that ﬁxes thewhile in the paper stencil dyeing,

warp threads at the waist, loosens

the weft threads are wound aroundthe warp threads as soon as thea frame the same width as the cloth

treadle is stepped on, and pulls theand dyed using a paper stencil inwarp threads to open the warp

advance.

threads as soon as they are released.

The weaver's individuality comes

It is a rare loom that is rarely used

out in the ﬁnished product, as thetoday, even in traditional weaving

pattern varies depending on theproduction areas in Japan.

weaving technique.

-3--4-

Inheritance connects to the future《Efforts in inheritance》《Contemporary Omi-Jofu》
Our hemp fabric production area, which has

Weaver Training Program

been in existence for about 600 years, has

Although the succession of traditional craft

accumulated experience, technology, andskills has become very diﬃcult due to awisdom.

variety of factors, Omi Jofu Traditional

Omi Jofu, an original brand of Omi Jofu

Kogei Center launched a program in 2014

Traditional Kogei Center, oﬀers handwoven

to foster successors. Starting with training

and machine-woven hemp products that

program of weaver of Kibira at ﬁrst, andshow the creators of the products, based onthen training program of weaver of Kasuri

product planning for modern life, whilesince 2016. In addition, we have started amaking the most of traditional qualities. The

training program of weavers for the shuttle

appeal of hemp, a natural material, is that itloom since 2018. We ﬂexibly respond toabsorbs water, dries quickly, and is clean tothose who wish to acquire skills throughuse. The more you use hemp, the softer it

various training courses.

becomes and the more comfortable it
becomes. We oﬀer the comfort that can only
come from a leading hemp production areathat knows hemp inside and out.

La ngua ge Suppo r t:

《 E x p e r i e n c e & L e a r n i n g 》J a pa ne s e o nl y ( o the r l a ngua ge s o n r e que s t)
Omi Jofu Traditional Kogei Center welcomes visitors, students, and various groups to learn
more about hemp weaving. The precious hand-weaving loom is always open in the center andoﬀers a wide variety of hands-on activities such as hand-weaving.

Experience programs using Hemp
Experience of weaving on Handloom
Experiences of waving Omi Jofu Kibira such as coasters using handspun yarn of hemp. Omi
Jofu Traditional Kogei Center is the only place in Japan where you can experience weaving
using handlooms.

Experience spinning yarn of hemp by hand
Tearing hemp ﬁbers and spinning them yarn by hand.
June to August only

Experience using Ramie

Hemp (Cannabaceae)

Ramie (Urticaceae)

Linen (Linaceae)

・Natural antimicrobial

・Texture with cool feeling・Supple texture similar toproperties.
・Prevents the growth ofand a sharpness

bacteria and prevents theeven when sweaty, and cansofter and more comfortablesource of odor.

maintain comfortability.

it becomes.

A common characteristic: Excellent moisture absorption and wicking properties.

Experience using ramie grown by Omi Jofu Traditional
Kogei Center. Experience only available during thelimited time of year when ramie is grown.
-5-cotton.

・It does not stick to the skin, ・The more you use it, the-6-