Oasis 21 i Center Hands-On Event: Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Tie-Dyeing
For those seeking to deepen their engagement with the cultural landscape of Nagoya, the Oasis 21 i-Center offers a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s heritage through traditional crafts. Dyeing has been deeply integrated into the fabric of Nagoya since ancient times, characterized by a variety of sophisticated techniques including Nagoya Yuzen, Nagoya Kuro-mon-tsuki dyeing, and the renowned Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori. To preserve and share these skills, the i-Center hosts monthly experience events focused on Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori, allowing participants to experience the tactile joy of the dyeing process.
Because the workshop is designed to be accessible, small children are very welcome to participate. Furthermore, English support is available to ensure that international visitors can fully engage with the instruction.
● About Reservations
● Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Dyeing Experience
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About Reservations
To manage the capacity of the workshop, a structured reservation system is in place. For the upcoming session, bookings for November open on November 2 (Mon) starting at 10:00 AM.
To ensure all participants have an opportunity to engage with the craft, seat reservations are limited to a maximum of 30 minutes and one piece of work per person. Participants must select one of the following available start times:
- Morning/Midday: 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 / 12:30
- Afternoon: 14:30 / 15:00 / 15:30 / 16:00
Reservations can be submitted via the Internet Application Form.
While priority is granted to those who reserve in advance, participation is possible on the day of the event provided there are vacant seats. Please note that the i-Center cannot accept any reservations made before the official reservation start date and time.
In the event of transportation disruptions caused by bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the experience event will be cancelled. In such instances, the i-Center will contact registered participants directly—which is why providing a name and contact information during the reservation process is essential. Official cancellation guidance will also be posted in the “Notice” section of the website and on the specific “Event Page.” Individuals who need to cancel their own reservations should contact the Oasis 21 i-Center via telephone at 052-963-5252.
Request for Cooperation
To ensure a safe and organized environment for all participants, the following guidelines are requested:
- Hand sanitization is required upon entry.
- The submission of a name and contact information is mandatory; this data will be discarded after one month and will not be used except in emergencies, such as severe weather.
- Photos will be taken during the workshop for recording purposes, though these will be captured in a manner that ensures faces are not recognizable.
- The workshop focuses on specific traditional methods; therefore, requests to use techniques other than the specified ones will be declined.
- For health and safety reasons, participation will be declined for anyone presenting a fever of 37.5 degrees or higher on the day of the event.
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Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Dyeing Experience
Under the guidance of instructor Mr. Yasuhito Kondo of Konsei Co., Ltd., participants will create items such as tenugui (traditional hand towels). The focus of this session is “Sekka Shibori,” which is one of the distinct patterns derived from the “Itajime” (board-clamping) technique. It should be noted that the technical support provided for this session is limited to the creation of equilateral triangles or isosceles right triangles.
Event Details:
- Date: November 9, 2026 (Mon)
- Required Time: 30 minutes
- Location: In front of Oasis 21 i-Center (Oasis 21 B1F)
- Fee: 1,200 yen (per piece)
- Contact: Oasis 21 i-Center (Reception hours 10:00–20:00) | TEL: 052-963-5252
Access:
The venue is highly accessible via public transit, as it is directly connected to the following stations:
- Subway Higashiyama Line/Meijo Line: Exit the “Sakae” Station through the East Ticket Gate.
- Meitetsu Seto Line: Exit the “Sakaemachi” Station ticket gate.
Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori is a resist-dyeing technique from the Arimatsu and Narumi districts, near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. It is one of many Japanese shibori methods, in which cloth is bound, folded, twisted, or stitched before dyeing to keep dye from reaching certain areas. The technique dates from the early Edo period, more than four centuries ago. It developed along the Tōkaidō road, the major route connecting Edo and Kyoto, and became a specialty sold to travelers passing through the region.
More than one hundred named patterns have been recorded. They include kanoko, small dots made by binding sections of cloth tightly with thread; miura, in which thread is looped around small pinches of fabric; kumo, formed by folding and binding the cloth into web-like lines; and hiwa, which produces irregular, bird-dropping shaped marks. Each of these requires handwork, and much of the labor is repetitive and slow. The dyed fabrics are often made with indigo or other natural dyes, and the finished textiles show geometric motifs, soft gradations, and clean, undyed lines.
In 1993, the Aichi Prefecture government designated Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori a Traditional Craft. The practice continues in the area: workshops are open to visitors, where it is possible to watch the process or try a simple technique, and local shops sell cloth, accessories, and garments made in this tradition.
