Category Archives: Photos

Kotaro Yamada –  Ryukyu bingata dyed textile (Okinawa Prefecture)  – Bingata is a traditional Okinawan dyeing technique with a history of nearly 700 years.  Local artisans draw pictures in vivid warm colors mainly on silk or cotton textiles, often using stencil papers with patterns cut out by hand. The tradition came out of the fateful crisis of war damages during the World War ll and is inherited by the local people with handcrafting skills. Bingata uses mineral and botanical pigments to dye textiles in distinctive colors. The dyed products are used to make kimonos and obi (Japanese sashes) as well as furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth), noren (Japanese short split curtains) … Continue reading →

Kotaro Yamada – Yamakoshi Alpaca Village (Nagaoka-shi, Niigata Prefecture) – Want to meet this fluffy sweet animal with a long neck? Then, come and join the crowd of tourists at Yamakoshi Alpaca Village in Yamakoshi, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata Prefecture, where you can actually enjoy feeding and touching them in the beautiful natural environment. Yamakoshi Alpaca Village is managed by a union established by local residents. It has two separate farms, one in Yubu for around 20 female alpacas and another in Tanesuhara for around 10 male alpacas. These farms are open to public for free for three seasons from spring through autumn. Alpacas, classified as camelids, eat grass and concentrated foodstuff … Continue reading →