[Sankatsu] Sankatsu Art Yukata Exhibition: “A New Craft to Embody the Pride of Artisans Past and Present,” Now on View

Sankatsu, a long-establishedyukatamanufacturer and wholesaler founded in 1894 in Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, is currently hosting the Sankatsu Art Yukata Exhibition “A New Craft to Embody the Pride of Artisans Past and Present,” in commemoration of the completion of its “art fabricyukata.” The exhibition runs through Friday, March 27, 2026, and is held at the Hyakunen Gallery located at the front of Sankatsu’s headquarters in Nihonbashi-Ningyocho.

The newly unveiled “art fabric” is Sankatsu’s new form of artistic expression, born from the interplay between the designs and skills passed down by the company and different techniques. For the first installment, fourth-generation head Hanshichi Amano selectedRyomenso, an exemplary work by ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The design is dyed onto plain-weave white cotton fabric using traditionalchusendyeing, then finished with embroidery applied at 26 points to create a richly expressive surface. The result is a special bolt of fabric that can be seen as a contemporary artwork—an interpretation of a celebrated ukiyo-e masterpiece through the traditional techniques ofchusendyeing and embroidery.

Kuniyoshi’sRyomensobelongs to a type of playful Edo-period imagery known asjoge-e, in which turning the image upside down reveals a different face. The humorous and technically intricate design appears as a face from either orientation, making it particularly well suited to thechusendyeing technique, in which patterns are dyed in reverse. Sankatsu’s long-cultivated dyeing expertise developed through its ukiyo-e series is fully reflected in this work. It is also said that Kuniyoshi once lived near present-day Ningyocho 3-chome, close to where Sankatsu’s head office stands today—another reason the company has produced many works based on his designs.

Also on display are prototype lampshades developed in collaboration with the lighting manufacturer DI CLASSE and the kimono accessory brand SACRA. When illuminated, the auspicioustaichutaimotif emerges. Two types are presented: the “Wood Panel” model, in which soft transmitted light brings a sense of calm to the space, and the “Fabric” model, which offers a dreamlike gradient of light. Combining form, pattern, and materials, these lampshades create a modern Japanese aesthetic and expand the possibilities of Sankatsu’s lifestyle series.

“Throughyukatapatterns, we hope to bring Japanese aesthetic sensibilities into everyday life,” says Amano. Be sure to visit the exhibition and discover the potential of “art fabric,” which breathes new life into traditional techniques while weaving them into the century to come.

【Details】
Sankatsu Art Yukata Exhibition: “A New Craft to Embody the Pride of Artisans Past and Present”
Dates: Until March 27 (Fri), 2026
Hours: 14:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00)
Venue: Hyakunen Gallery (1F–3F), in front of the Sankatsu headquarters building
Reception: Sankatsu headquarters 1F (3-4-7 Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Free
Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays (irregular closures)

【Sankatsu Yukata Museum】
At the Sankatsu headquarters, the Sankatsu Yukata Museum exhibits valuable materials including Isekatagamistencils, chusenandnagaita chugatadyeing samples, bolts of fabric, and works by Living National Treasure Kotaro Shimizu. Please visit alongside the exhibition.
Location: Sankatsu headquarters (3-4-7 Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: 1F (gallery of stencil-dyed cotton and Isekatagami), free; B1F (guided museum), 2,000 yen (advance reservation required; includes an explanation and a museum-exclusivetenuguihand towel)

■Sankatsu
Official website
http://sankatsu-zome.com/english/