on version!
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Japan Heritage Site in Our Community

Awa-The Home of “Ai ”
Searching for the Supreme Blueof Japanese indigo.

In 2019, A story of our community was
designated as a Japan Heritage.

Table of Contents“Ai ” (Japanese indigo) and Our Community
What is “Ai ”(Japanese indigo)?

2
3

Cartoon: A story of Awa (former name of Tokushima)and Japanese indigo

4

A Story of Japan Heritage site
Awa-The Home of “ Ai ”, Japanese indigo

18

Map of Awa-The Home of “Ai ”, Japanese indigo

20

It's something we can be proud of!
By the way, what is Japan Heritage?
Japan Heritage is an initiative to rediscover the charms of Japan.
The purposes of this certification are to promote the local tourism and to energize thecommunity by compiling the charms of the community into an easy-to-understand story
and propagating it both domestically and internationally.
There are currently 104 stories across Japan.
The story of our community, now recognized as a Japan Heritage site, consists of ninecities and towns in the Yoshino River basin in Tokushima Prefecture (Tokushima-shi,
Yoshinogawa-shi, Awa-shi, Mima-shi, Ishii-chō, Kitajima-chō, Aizumi-chō, Itano-chō andKamiita-chō).
The 32 cultural assets that have been carefully passed down from generation to
generation in each community create the story of Awa-Ai (Awa indigo).

A story of our community designated as a Japan Heritage

Awa-The Home of “Ai ”

Searching for the Supreme Blue of Japanese indigo“Ai ” (Japanese indigo) has been deeply involved in Japanese people’s
lives since ancient times and is known as a mysterious blue color.

The basin of the Yoshino River, which flows majestically through thenorthern part of Tokushima Prefecture, is the largest production area of
Sukumo (Japanese indigo dye made of indigo leaves) in Japan.

Character

Ai

-chan

A 12-year-old girlliving in Tokushima

Prefecture

The high stone walls and white walls of the houses of wealthy farmers
on the plains of this area, the gorgeous Udatsu (firewall) in Wakimachi,

and the rhythm of Awa Odori dance, all of which suggest that Ai-Shōnin(indigo merchants) were once prosperous and active to distribute
Sukumo, traveling all over Japane.

In this region, Sukumo is still produced using traditional techniques, andthe indigo colors produced by the Sukumo continue to fascinate people.

Let's ﬁnd out more about “ai ”,
which has a deep connection
with our community!

AijiroKamenozoki

1Ai and Our Community
In fact, the townscape we are familiar with,
the Yoshino River, and even Awa Odori dance
seem to have a deep relationship with ai !
In the plains of the Yoshino River basin, known as “Awa-no-Kitakata” (the northern part ofAwa), indigo production has long been practiced, and was a major industry during the Edo(1603-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods.
This was largely due to the influence of the Yoshino River, as the climate and land of Tokushima were
well suited for indigo production. Even today, indigo production continues in this area.
When you explore the town, you will find the influence of the ai industry here and there thathas flourished.
This includes the magnificent buildings known as Ai-Yashiki (indigo mansion) and theUdatsu-lined streets that are a symbol of affluence.
The prosperity of “ai ” is also the base for a representative traditional performing art ofTokushima, Awa Odori dance.

Tokushima bustling with “ai ” trading

In Tokushima, when did“ai ” start to be grown?
Although we do not know when “ai ” started to
be grown for sure because no historical records
remain, it is believed that Tokushima was amajor producer of ai during the Muromachi
period (1333-1573).
It is known from an old document called “Hyogo
Kitaseki Irifune Nohcho ” (account book for ship
arrival at the north barrier of Hyogo) that a large
amount of indigo was brought from Tokushima to
the port of Hyogo in 1445, in the middle of the
Muromachi period.
There is no record that indigo was transported
from any regions other than Tokushima at thattime, and it is said that ai was already a
specialty of Tokushima then.

A scene of Ai-ōichi (reproduced)

This is a scene from Ai-ōichi (the Indigo
Grand Market) held in the castle town ofTokushima in the middle of the Edo period.
The large numbers of banners and peopleindicate that the town was bustling with a lot of
activities.

(The Okumura Family Residence)

The Yoshino River

Awa Odori dance festival

SorairoIn Tokushima, a type ofindigo called “tade-ai ” iscultivated.
The leaf part of the plant,
which contains the blue
pigment, is used.

“Sukumo”“Ai ” is also the name of the blue
color, the plant from which the blue
color is derived and the dye made from it.
There are many kinds of “ai ” all over
the world.
We have been using them to dye
various things blue since ancient times.
In the Edo period, blue color was foundeverywhere in the town such as incommon people’s clothes and curtains.
Indigo-dyeing processes using indigo
leaves are shown on the right.

The dye called “Sukumo”
is made by fermenting
indigo leaves.
It takes about 100 days formasters called “Ai-Shi ”toproduce Sukumo .

Indigo dyeing

Masters called “Some-Shi ”
use Sukumo to produce anindigo dye solution.
When the fabric is dipped inthis solution, it is dyed blue.

It's amazing how the green leave color
can turn into the beautiful blue.

The colors produced from ai come in a wide variety, with as many as 48 different colors.
They range in appearance from light blue to dark blue.
It may be interesting to consider the origin of the name of each color.
Aijirokamenozoki

shirahanairo

shiraaihisokuirosorairomizuasagi

sabiasagi

asagi

minatonezumi

ainezukonnezusabinezu

mizuirousuhanadaasahanada

shinhashiiro

hanadaseirankokihanada

usuai

hanaasagi

usuhanairo

usuhanasakura

hanairofujinandonandokohrainando

sabitetsuonando

sabionando

omeshionando

tetsuonando

tetsunoshimehanairoaikoshiaiaisabikon

konjyou

tetsukon

konai

aitetsukachiiro

aokachishikonnasukonkachigaeshi

tomekon“Ai ” is popular all over the world

Ai-Yashiki

2

Japanese indigo leaves

By the way,
what is “ai ”?
I thought it wasnamed forthe blue color,
but...

There are 48 kinds of color names for “ai ” !

All of these are also related to “ai ” !
The history of ai
is linked toour community today.

What is Ai ?

The Historic Udatsu Area

Indigo dyeing has been practiced
around the world for centuries.
In Egypt, for example, a 4,000-year-old
mummy wrapped in indigo-dyed
cloth was discovered.
In North America, indigo-dyed
garments were also used as work
clothes.
This is said to be the origin of“jeans”, which are still loved bymany people today.

From the next page, let's take a look at Japanese Indigo productionin Tokushima during the Edo and Meiji periods, using cartoons!
The story is based on historical documents such as“Randen Kansui no Zu (irrigation of indigo fields)”.
It depicts a story of a young man working in indigo fields during theEdo period who, through hard work, became an accomplished
Ai-Shi (indigo master) and Ai-Shōnin (indigo merchant).

The cartoon shows!

-A Story of Awa
and Japanese Indigo
Starting from the next page!

Mizuiro3

①

Residence where Rokube was working

April 1805⑤④

In the lower reaches of the Yoshino River, subterranean water*1 flew underground.
So, people dug a well in an indigo field and use the water with a Hane-Tsurube(water bucket suspended from a weighted rod)*2

h

s
Spla

②

The quality of Japanese indigo
last year was highly evaluatedas excellent.

⑥

CreakyHey...

CreakyI’ve been working
in the indigo field
for five years.

This year, we’re going to be busy
from now, too.

⑧

Keep up the good work.

Master: Matsunosuke Tayama
Rokube was working as a servant in the Tayama family,a family of “Ai-Shōnin” (indigo merchant).

Ohashi Rokube

Whoosh!

⑦!

s so hotIt’

When can I become
an Ai-Shi ?

③

He was born into a poor family.
His dream was to becomea full-fledged Ai-Shi (indigo
master).

Five years? ...
I’ve been working herefor 30 years.

*1Subterranean water...River water seeping under the stream and flows underground.
*2Hane-Tsurube...A mechanism for pumping water from a well. A weight is attached to one end and water is pumped up like a seesaw.

4

Mizuasagi

Asagi

5

⑩

Indigo cultivation involves fertilizing, weeding, and soil preparation.
All of these were hard work.

!

Sha
ha!

⑮

At that time, Japanese indigo was mainly transported through the Yoshino RiverS

Among those things, pest control was tough.
Since there were no pesticides like today,
harmful insects were caught by hand.

⑨

July to August is Japanese indigo harvesting season.
Harvesting is also hard work.

The Yoshino River was usually calm.
But, every year, when a storm hit the area, the river changed into a “raging river”, damaging
the villages and fields.
⑯

.
.
.
g
n
i
Roar
The harvested Japanese indigo was loaded on a horseand brought to the production house.

Yes, I will!
I will do my best.
Let me learn it.

⑪

Are you Rokube?
Uh...uhh...

Ah... yes.
Oh...
You are our master!

Won’t you learn
indigo production more.

⑭

6

Shinhashiiro

g
n
i
r
e
Wuth

Thud

⑬

⑫

Oh, my God!
It’s going to flood.
Need to get everyone out of here.

⑰

a
a
b
a
bab
Hanada7

s!
s! Guy coming!
y
u
g
,
i
s
He
water ’A big

Ai-Yashiki (indigo mansions) were built on the high stone walls
to prevent damages caused by flooding.

Panting

a
b
a
b
a
b
Ba
baba
Panting

d
u
h
t
d
Thu
thud

⑲

⑱

OK,
put it down slowly.

An escape boat was ready in case of emergency.

We know.
Everyone’s already upstairs
for evacuation
We are lowering the boat now.
Help us.

Crang

Oh...

Wow! Oh, my God.
The water is just getting
to this high...

㉒OK,
Get on the boat!

Splash*Flooding of the Yoshino River tormented people, but on the other hand, it also brought nutrient-rich soil from the mountains to the region.

8

Usuhanasakura

Indigo production begins with sowing
seeds in early March.
Then comes the hard work of fertilizing,weeding, and pest control.
The first harvesting is carried out
around the end of the rainy season, andthe second and third ones from July toearly September.

Around April to May: Planting seedlings

When the seedlings have grown
to about 20 cm, they aretransplanted into the main field.
Around June: The indigo ﬁelds are all over green

Scoop

Broom to expel insects
One of the hardest tasks
in the indigo field is pest
control.
In those days, farm tools
like the ones above
were used to brush off
insects from the leaves.
Manual exterminationof insects requiredconsiderable patience.

Flood control in Ai-Yashiki
Protective measure 1:⑳

Rokube and his colleagues were helping otherpeople in the neighborhood who delayed in fleeing.

Work in indigo ﬁelds

I see that indigo plants
are carefully cultivatedin the indigo ﬁelds
by using a lot of timeand efforts.

Point

㉑
㉓

Point

People at that time used to livein their houses with various
measures to prevent damage
caused by a ﬂood.
The Yoshino River,whose nickname is“Shikoku Saburo,” wasone of the “three most raging rivers inJapan” and frequently overflowed.
At that time, floods brought nutrient-richsoil, making the river basin perfect for
indigo cultivation.
At that time, the Ai-Shi and Ai-Shōnin lived
and worked in a magnificent mansion
called Ai-Yashiki. In the mansion, we canfind various flood protection measures forliving in this area.
*The three most raging rivers in JapanThe Tone River in Kanto, the Chikugo River in Kyūshū,and the Yoshino River in Shikoku.
They are called “Bandō Tarō,” “Chikushi Jirō,” and“Shikoku Saburō,” respectively.

A mansion built on high stone walls

There are many Ai-Yashiki built on top of high stone walls
to keep them out of the water during floods. The Tanaka
Family Residence in Ishii-chō has a stone wall of 2m 70cm
high at its highest point. In Mainakashima, Mima-shi, which
is located in the midstream of the Yoshino River and was
frequently flooded, there are houses and temples with highstone walls.

Ai-Yashiki(The Tanaka Family Residence)

Mainakashima District

Protective measure 2:

Preparation for emergencies! Escape boat

In an indigo mansion, there was a processing areafor indigo dye materials called Nedoko (fermentationbed) where Ai-Shi made Sukumo.
Boats were hanging from the eaves of the Nedoko forSomescape in case of flooding.
eb

Boat

oats
c
10 pan accom
eople mod!
ate

NedokoEaves of the Nedoko(The Takechi Family Residence)

Nando

9

Indigo leaves are beaten, loosened and dried.

The harvested indigo plants are chopped andthe leaves and stems are separated.

Water should beevenly sprinkled.

㉙㉚

Ai-Konashi (chopping and drying leaves)

SplooshYes!

Beating

㉕

ud...

㉗

Th

㉔

Ai-Suri (grinding the dried pieces)

The amount of water sprinkled
over the leaf pieces is very importantand Mizu-Shi (watering master) controlled
mizu-uchi (sprinkling water).

Sploo

sh
㉛

Water is sprinkled over the piled leaf pieces and the pile is well mixed
and then the pieces are piled again.

ing
b
u
r
Sc
hard
The dried indigo leaf pieces are put in a sackand the sack is put in a temporary storage.

The dried pieces
are ground to become smaller

In September, finally, Nesekomi (repeated watering and mixing for fermentation)is the most important process in the Sukumo-making stage.

㉖㉘

By piling up, some pressure is applied to the indigo leaves to ferment them well.
This is called Nesekomi.

The stored leaf pieces are stuckon the wide earth floor
called Nedoko(fermentation bed)㉜

, thudhud
Thud, tThud..

.

This series of processes
are repeated every 5 days for 100 days
to make Sukumo finally.
With the support of the Tokushima Clan government,
Awa indigo had grown into a high quality Hon-Ai (authentic Japanese indigo) that was recognized throughout the country.

10

Tetsu

Noshimehanairo

11PointProduction of Sukumo in Nedoko
Harvesting indigo leaves

Ai-Konashi (chopping and drying leaves)

The stems and leaves are separated,
and the leaves are dried for about 2 days.

▲Applying water

Kirikaeshi(mixing)▶

The indigo leaves are spread out in
Nedoko and repeatedly wateredand mixed (Kirikaeshi) to ferment
the leaves.

Awa-Ai has been
passed down throughthe generations by masters
who devote themselves toindigo production.

Ai

Today is Indigo Grand Market Day
and a competition of Japanese indigo dyes in Awa is held.

Covering Nedoko with Futon (straw mat)

From late October, when the weather
turns cold, the indigo leaves are covered
with a straw mat called Futon to keepthem warm while they ferments.

This Year’s Awardof Excellence
went to the Sukumo
produced by
Mr. Rokube Ohashi

Covering Nedoko with Futon (straw mat)

About 100 days later from Nesekomi, the fermentation
process is completed to produce Sukumo.

Masters who have reserved Awa-Ai
Ai-Shi (indigo master)12

It is getting closer
and closer to completion!

Around September to December: Nesekomi

In the northern part of
Awa, you can still see thetraditional way of making
Sukumo, which has remained
unchanged since the Edo
period.
The process of making
Sukumo, is an important
step in bringing out the
beautiful color of Japaneseindigo.

Masters who have takenover the tradition still
continue to produce
Japanese indigo today.

㉝

10 years later, Rokube started to sell Japanese indigo by himself.

He got his own indigo farm, employed workers
and started producing Sukumo.

Once the leaves are
harvested, it's time
to make Sukumo
in Nedoko !
It seems that there
are various processes
until it is completed.

Point

The Tokushima Clan government supported the sales of Sukumo throughout Japan.

Congratulations!
Please continue to make further efforts
from now on, too.

㉟㉞

The indigo dyes brought in were evaluatedwith so-called *1Teita (hand board)judgement method.
Well...now,
I will make an announcement.

(Shout of joy)㊲

*2 Award plate
Yes!
↓
Thank you very much.

Some-Shi (dyeing master)

Oh~!

㊱

(People clapping their hands to congratulate him)

Ai-Shi mixes indigo leaves, whichbecome as hot as 60 to 70℃ due to thefermentation heat, wearing short pantsin bare feet.
The heat is unbearable for most people,
but they cherish their ancestor’s teachingthat Ai-Shi should feel indigo directly byhis skin while making it.

Using Sukumo made by Ai-Shi, Some-Shi
dyes various items a beautiful blue color.
In lye fermentation process, the dyeing
solution is made from only natural
materials such as lye and bran without
using any chemicals.
The blue dyed hands of Some-Shi show
his passion for indigo-dyeing.

I’ll do my bestfor the developmentof Awa-Ai
from now on, too.

㊳

*1 Teita judgement method...using a small amount of Sukumo kneaded with a few drops of water, it was pressed like a stamp on Japanese paper (Teita-paper) to judge its quality.
*2Award plate...equivalent to today’s trophies. The grades of “Zuiichi”, “Junichi” and “Tenjo” were assigned from the top in order in indigo quality.
Aisabi13

When Rokube received Zuiichi award,
brokers started to come to purchase
Rokube’s Sukumo.

)

ng on
i
m
m
u
r
D
(

Point

Wealthy lives of Ai-Shōnin
The interior of Ai-Yashiki (The Okumura Family Residence)

I am interested in the life of“Ai-Shōnin ” who grew
Awa indigo to be the bestin Japan in both quality and quantity.

pWhen a deal is done,
Rokube “entertained” the brokers
and enlivened the party
with gorgeous food, dancing, etc.
㊶

(Beng )
beng

Please enjoy
to the fullest!
㊵

Clap cla

It looks like a castle! This is where they entertained other merchants.

㊴

The activities of Ai-Shōnin had influenced the traditional
performing arts of Tokushima such as Awa Odori dance and
Awa-Ningyo-Joruri (Japanese puppet show with recited
narrative and shamisen (Japanese banjo) music), whichhave continued to the present day.

Thanks to the support of Tokushima Clangovernment and the activities of Ai-Shōnin, Awa-Ai
gained a high reputation throughout Japan. Ai-Shōnin,who handled everything from indigo cultivation tosales, built magnificent mansions and fully entertained
other merchants from all over Japan who came to Awa
to buy the indigo.
The rows of mansions built by those Ai-Shōnin madethe “The Historic Udatsu Area”.
The luxurious decorations, as if competing with each otherfor richness, suggest their wealthy lifestyle of the time.
Point

Working and learning from a young age,
Rokube had overcome hardships and when he was 40 years old,he became an Ai-Shōnin living in a big Ai-Yashiki.

㊷

Keep upthe good work.

14

Konjyou

UdatsuThe Historic
Udatsu Area

Awa Odori dance
Awa Odori dance today incorporates
various elements from different
communities.
As the dance has been influenced by thecultures of Kamigata (current Osaka),
Kyushu, Kanto, and Mie, you can sense
how actively indigo merchants had been
traveling around the country.

“Bon” dance songs were often sung in dinnerparties in the Edo period.
Ai-Shōnin, who were traveling around the country
for their business, mixed them with folk songs andother types of music from various communities.
As the results, “Awa Odori dance” today was born.
Ai-Shōnin, who loved performing arts, often
invited puppet troupes to their homes and enjoyedpuppet shows.

(

The “Udatsu ” built between the first and thesecond floor roofs of the mansion at the both ends
was originally a firewall to prevent the spread of fire.
It gradually became a symbol of opulence and wealth.

Performing arts fostered by Ai-Shōnin

I see that performing arts
are very important to make a"dinner party" more entertaining.
What are some of the performing arts
fostered by “Ai-Shōnin ”?

Last year, our ai
was highly evaluated.
We are going to be busy
from now this year, too.

A town where "Udatsu ", a symbol of afﬂuence, is built

This led to the development of Deko (wooden doll)
culture such as “Awa-Ningyo-Joruri ” (Japanesepuppet show with recited narrative and shamisen(Japanese banjo)) and “Sanbaso-Mawashi ”(prelude puppet performer) using Awa Deko.

)

Awa-Ningyo-Joruri
A puppet play consists of threeelements: a gidayuu-bushi-joruri(gidayuu-style dramatic recitation),shamisen (Japanese banjo), andsannin-zukai-ningyo (a single puppet
manipulated by three puppeteers).
It is performed with large, shiny puppets andlarge movements called “Awa-no-te ”.

Awa Deko : "Sanbaso-Mawashi ”
This is a performing art in which four wooden
dolls are placed in two wooden boxes andperformed by a pair of a puppeteer and a drummer.
It is a popular New Year’s event, andSanbaso-Mawashi visited the residencesof Ai-Shōnin and dedicated the performanceto the indigo god in Nedoko.

Kachiiro15

㊸

̶ Modern times ̶㊻

But, Ai-Shōnin who had already started
multilateral business management did not give up.
They strengthened certain businesses
that they were good at to maintain them.

They pioneered areas
where the times demanded
such as banking, sake brewery,sericulture, carrot farming, etc.

Head Office of Ohashi Corporation㊹

The first generation of Rokube Ohashi
made a name for himself
as an Ai-Shōnin
and built Udatsu.
At the end of the Edo period,
the business was passed down to
the second generation
and with the tail wind,
the second generation started multilateralmanagement of transportation
and brewing businesses.

Then, in the Meiji era,
Western-style clothing was introduced
from overseas and through technological innovation,
cotton fabrics started to be produced in a factory.

Large quantities of Indian indigo
and artificial indigo,which are cheap and easy in dyeing,
started to be imported
and greatly damaged Awa-Ai business.

The 10th generationof the Ohashi family㊺㊼

200 years have passed now
since the first generation
became an Ai-Shōnin.
What our predecessors had establishedstill exist here in Tokushima.

The Ai-Sho-Damasii (indigo merchant’s spirit),
pioneering ahead of the times,
has been handed down to this day to our generation.

*Multilateral management...operating in more than one type of business.

16

Kon

Koshiai17

We have compiled a list of Japan Heritage stories from our community!

Awa-The Home of “Ai ”
Searching for the Supreme Blue of Japanese indigo

Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima-shi, Yoshinogawa-shi, Awa-shi, Mima-shi, Ishii-chō,
Kitajima-chō, Aizumi-chō, Itano-chō, Kamiita-chō“Ai (Japanese indigo)” has been deeply involved in Japanese people’s lives since ancient
times and is a representative color of Japan.
Foreigners visiting Japan during the Meiji era were amazed at the abundance of clothes dyedwith Japanese indigo throughout Japan, and praised the country as “a country full of
mysterious blue”.
The Yoshino River basin in the northern part of Tokushima Prefecture, known as“Awa-no-Kitakata”, was the source of this mysterious blue color.
This area is the largest production site of Sukumo, which is Japanese indigo dye, in Japan, andis the homeplace of ai, where masters still produce Sukumo using traditional techniques andcontinue to support Japan’s culture of dyeing and weaving.

from all over the country to earn their trust.
This is the historic background behind the numerous and splendid Ai-Yashiki in the area.
Nedoko (fermentation bed) to produce Sukumo still remain on the premises of these mansions,
underneath these eaves, boats used for evacuating during floods are also suspended.
This is what it was like in the homeplace of ai, where the techniques of Sukumo production have been
inherited.

Sukumo manufacturing techniques
In northern Awa, you can still witness the traditional Sukumo
manufacturing process, which remains unchanged since the Edo era.
In early spring, seeds are sown, and at the end of the rainy season,
the entire area turns completely green with ai fields spreading all over.
The ai leaves harvested in early summer are finely chopped, dried and▲Ai plantation
fermented to produce Sukumo.
In Nedoko, the accumulated ai leaves are repeatedly moistened withwater, mixed, and fermented during the autumn to winter.
The masters there exert their utmost effort to produce Sukumo whosecolor is extremely beautiful.
The fermentation temperature of ai leaves exceeds 60℃ at somepoint, and the Nedoko is filled with steam, hot air, and pungent odors.
The temperature and smell tell the end of the Sukumo production ▲Ai-Shi sprinkling water on ai leaves
phase.
Then, after about 100 days of fermentation, it takes on the appearanceof black soil clumps, when whole Sukumo production procedures arecompleted.

The landscape and climate of the homeplace of ai
In the basin of the Yoshino River, which flows east to west in thenorthern part of Tokushima Prefecture, large mansions erected on highstone walls can be seen everywhere.
These castle-like mansions are called Ai-Yashiki and symbolize thearea.
Ai-Shi (indigo master) and Ai-Shōnin (indigo merchant) responsible forthe production, processing, and distribution of indigo dyes, lived andworked in these Ai-Yashiki, sending out indigo dyes to all parts of ▲The Okumura Family Residence
Japan. Ai-Shi and Ai-Shōnin responsible for the production,
processing, and distribution of Sukumo (Japanese indigo dye), lived
and worked in these Ai-Yashiki, sending out Sukumo to all parts ofJapan.
Frequent floods from the rampaging Yoshino River, caused devastating
damage to the people living along the basin.
On the other hand, however, the area was rich contained fertile soil ▲The Yoshino River
from flood that made it suitable for ai cultivation.
Ai is said to have been a specialty of this area during the Muromachi
period (1336-1573), and in the Edo period (1603-1868), the Tokushima
Clan government supported ai production and actively worked to
improve its quality.
Awa ai, which have improved in quality, are now called Hon-Ai (authentic
Japanese indigo) and have become popular throughout Japan.
Awa Ai-Shi and Ai-Shōnin competed to construct magnificent ▲A boat suspended under the eavesof the Nedoko building.
mansions and held gorgeous parties to entertain their clients who came18

Nasukon▲Ai-Shi mixing ai leaves

Distribution of Awa ai and prosperity of the region
Awa Sukumo was highly regarded throughout Japan. Ai-Shōnin of
Awa were also active in their business on a national scale. Not only did
Ai-Shōnin gain wealth, but they also brought the cultures of othercommunities back to Awa, which then developed into the unique cultureof Awa and is now known as Awa Odori dance.
▲Awa Odori danceAi-Shōnin of Awa, who loved the arts and were generous with theirmoney, often enjoyed puppet shows, and this led to the flourishing of
the “Awa-Ningyo-Joruri ” and other forms of Deko culture.
Even now, at the beginning of the year, the “Sanbaso-Mawashi
performers” visit Ai-Yashiki to perform their art.
In Wakimachi, “Udatsu-no-machinami ” (The Historic Udatsu Area)
established by wealthy ai merchants still remains.
“Udatsu ” (firewall), originally designed to protect against fires, are ▲Awa-Ningyo-Joruri
decorated gorgeously as if competing with each other for wealth.
The Udatsu-lined townscape and the mansions of the wealthy merchants,
which even had docks built on their premises, demonstrate the glorious
lifestyles of the time when the town flourished.
At the end of the year, the cheerful rhythm of “Shamisen-mochitsuki ”(rice cake-pounding event) conveys the liveliness of the indigo▲Udatsu streets
economy at the time.

Shikon19

This is Japan Heritage Map of“Awa-The Home of Ai ” !

List of constituent cultural assets❶ The Tanaka Family Residence❾ Ainōkōsaku no Fūkei Ryakuzu⓱ The Hayashi Family Documents

Awa-Deko Sanbasō-Mawashi❷ The Takechi Family Residence❿ Kenshō-ji Temple Documents⓲ The Tezuka Family Documents

Mainakashima District⓳ The Indigo-related documents

The landscape connecting indigo farmland
and its distribution hub⓴ The Takahashi Family Documents

Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildingsof Mima-shi Wakimachi Minamimachi⓫ Shōzui Castle remains andShugo-Machi Shōzui ruins❸ The Okumura Family Residence❹ The Wariishi Family Residence⓬ Tokushima Castle remains
and Tokushima castle town remains❺ The Fujita Family Residence❻ The Ai-Yashiki of Suwa, Yamakawa-chō❼ The indigo-related cultural assets centeredaround the Kudō Family Residence❽ Color-on-silk agricultural painting“Randen Kansui no Zu ”

owned by Kitajima-chō⓭ Aizen-An and the Statue of

Awa Indigo Production⓮ The Okumura Family Documents

Tools used for Awa -Ai cultivationand processing

Shamisen mochitsuki

Awa-Odori

Lye-fermented aidate dyeing

Awa -Ningyō -Jōruri

Awa-Ai chūsen

Inubushi Kyūsuke

⓯ The Motoki Family Document:
Kadoya Nikki⓰ The Takechi Family Documents

The Yoshida Family Residence

Shōzui Castle remains and Shugo-Machi Shōzui ruins

Itano-chō

Statue of Inubushi KyūsukeThe Yoshida Family Residence

Awa-shi

OshimaAnabukiMima-shi

Kawata❻Kamojima

The YoshRiver ino

YamaseAwa-Yamakawa

Gaku

Nishi-Oe❼

Awa-KawashimaoshinoThe Y iverR

Oezuka❸⓮Ishii-chōUshinoshima

Aizumi-chō❿

Kamiita-chō
⓲
❽

❹

Itano

⓭

⓴⓯

Shimoura

⓱

Ishii

⓫

Shozui

Kitajima-chō

Tokushima Airport(Tokushima Awa Odori Airport)⓳❺

The Yoshino
River

❶
❷⓰

❾

Ikenotani

Bando

Sako
Ko

Kuramoto

Tokushima-shi

Tokushima⓬
Tokushima Castle remains
and Tokushima castle town remains

Yoshinogawa-shi

Awa-Ai chūsen

20Kachigaeshi

Tomekon21

Issued by: Promotion Council for “Ai no Furusato Awa (Awa-The Home of Ai )”Contact: Social Education Division, Aizumi Town Board of Education Tel: 088-637-3128
Translated by Miyake Emi