Kumihimo
The Zigzag Magic of Japanese Braided Cord

The planned exhibition "Kumihimo――The Zigzag Magic of Japanese Braided Cord" has been cancelled due to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our customers and employees. Thank you for your understanding.

Kumihimo, the art of braiding three or more threads into a cord, has been practiced in Japan since the prehistoric Jomon period. It is distinguished by its exceptional elasticity and strength, as well as the ability to braid complex and beautiful cords in many cross-sectional shapes and color patterns, depending on the braiding technique used. Having such features, kumihimo has played an important role in rites and religious ceremonies in Japan since ancient times. With the changing eras, moreover, its range of uses has expanded and new techniques and designs have been developed accordingly. With its exquisite sophistication, both in design and function, the world of kumihimo holds many surprises, even for those already familiar with Japanese braided cord.

This exhibition displays some 140 actual examples of braided cord from kumihimo's long history in Japan, each with its own distinctive character. Many of the cords date from the Muromachi to Edo periods (1336-1868), a time of flourishing development for kumihimo. Others date from the Meiji period (1868-1912), when braided cord became widely available, to recent years, a time of broad, new applications.

The exhibition begins with the braided cord used by samurai society for linking components of armor and on sword mountings. This is followed by examples of decorative cord, used by the public for tying obi (kimono sash), haori (kimono-style coat), and other kimono accessories. Displayed next are kumihimo's broad contemporary applications, such as its use as a composite material, with resin, in the socket of a prosthesis (artificial limb). Finally, we present work by Jusuke Fukami, the only kumihimo craftsman to be certified as a Living National Treasure, and the kumihimo of the Andes (Peru and Bolivia), which like Japan developed highly sophisticated braided cord. We hope you will enjoy the profound, complex beauty of kumihimo through our displays.

We wish to extend our deepest appreciation to Makiko Tada (Director, The Kumihimo Society) for her supervision and support, and everyone whose efforts have made this exhibition possible.