[Ryukobo]”Edo craftsmanship” Shines as a Store Display for an Overseas Boutique

Ryukobo, established in Nihombashi, Tokyo 131 years ago, has long passed down the technique of making kumihimo—braided cord that was introduced to Japan during the Asuka period and is said to have developed in the Edo period as an auspicious item. Ryukobo assembled a “kumihimo curtain” as a store display for an overseas boutique that opened in the fall of 2020.

This “kumihimo curtain” uses approximately two tons of thread, is 23 kilometers in length, and all 550 braids have been tied together by hand. Those knots symbolize the connection between the people, culture, and generations of Japan and the rest of the world.

This display was a new challenge for Ryukobo, as we had always given form to the ideas of “use and beauty.” The display will provide an opportunity to reexamine the significance of the existence of kumihimo in the era of the new coronavirus, where connections with others are increasingly being sought, emphasizing the importance of human relationships that the culture of kumihimo has always represented.

■Ryukobo

https://ryukobo.jp/

■ryukobotokyo　Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ryukobotokyo/