Taifuki

Taifuki [たいふき] is a type of decorative reinforcement embroidery, which originated in Aoma Prefecture during the Teijō period, or the late 15th century. It is also known as aomafuki, typically by those outside of the prefecture.
Taifuki is generally constructed of white cotton embroidery in square patterns on plain fabrics such as cotton, linen and hemp. During the Teijō period, peasants were not permitted to wear cotton cloth in the Honzura region, as it was deemed only fit for use by the upperclasses. Peasants initially attempted to stay warm by wearing multiple layers of linen, but the fabric frayed easily. Cotton thread was instead added to linen cloth with the aim of bypassing these regulations and making clothes warmer and more protective during the harsh winter weather, as well as strengthening the cloth.
Later, during the Kanaka administration (1705-1791), many of the strict class rules that once governed Kanton were abolished or became more lenient. This enabled the use of cotton in clothing for everyone in the former holdings of the Honzura, and embroidering dyed cloth with white cotton thread became more common. As the access to materials increased, competition to design the most beautiful patterns rose, with an estimate of over 300 different taifuki patterns being created.
In 1996, taifuki was given the status of a traditional craft item of Aoma Prefecture. In the present-day, elementary school students in the region learn how to hand-stitch the pattern.
== Varieties ==
* Kaofuki - originated in an area east of the modern-day city of Yōshō. Strips of embroidery were sewn on the shoulders of clothing in a zig-zag horizontal pattern. This was to increase the strength of the fabric and keep it from wearing down as a result of its owner carrying goods over the shoulder.
* Tsunanfuki - originated in the city of Aoma, and is probably the most iconic variety of taifuki, featuring square-shaped embroidery patterns. Larger squares would be sewn around the shoulders and back, gradually becoming smaller in a gradient fashion as they reached the waist.
* Achidafuki - originated in the Achida village, which is now part of modern-day Kojū. The area was not as well-off as other parts of the Honzura region. As a result, patterns were smaller than seen in other areas due to the lack of material. Horizontal stripes are used, though not as heavily as seen in other patterns.