Uetsu Shinafu
Linden-bark Cloth of Uetsu
Produced in small villages on the border of Niigata and Yamagata prefectures at Niigata's northernmost tip.
Once the winter livelihood of every household — from spinning to weaving — the craft is now carried on by just three women who weave year-round with thread spun in each village home. Stripping bark in the summer forest is still the men's work; the autumn spinning and weaving belongs to the women.
Products have evolved from practical everyday goods to interior textiles, obi sashes, and accessories. A 2013 collaboration with Murakami Kibori Tsuishu produced bags combining both crafts.
At Sanpoku Nariwai-no-Sato visitors can try shinafu weaving and experience mountain village life, including traditional ash-based cuisine.
○ Main production area: Tsuruoka City (Yamagata Pref.), Murakami City (Niigata Pref.)
Uetsu Shinafu Promotion Council
222 Mukai, Sekigawa, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 999-7315 (inside Sekigawa Shinaori Center)
Tel: 0235-47-2502 / Fax: 0235-47-2333
Email: info@shinaori-sekigawa.com
Shinafu Workshop Nariwai-no-Sato
325 Yamakumada, Murakami City, Niigata 959-3917
Tel/Fax: 0254-76-2115
Email: keizai-ss@city.murakami.lg.jp
Yamakumada Workshop
299-1 Yamakumada, Murakami City, Niigata 959-3917
HP: https://shop.yamakumada.jp
Email: yamakumada@151cm.com
Kaminari Shinabata Preservation Society
434 Kaminari, Murakami City, Niigata 959-3916 / Tel: 0254-76-2825