Machiya “Old Imai Dyeing Shop” in the Edo period has been renewed as a handicraft culture experience facility! (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

2021.4.30

Battens laceJoetsu CityOld Imai dye shop

You can experience making the former local industry “Batten Race”!

As a valuable townhouse at the end of the Edo period, the historical building “Old Imai Dyeing Shop” designated as a cultural property in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, will be a facility where you can experience making the former local industry “Batten Race” on the 29th. It was reopened.

“Old Imai Dyeing Shop” is a townhouse built at the end of the Edo period. As the oldest townhouse in the city, we have been able to see it before, but with this renovation, it has been reborn as a facility where you can experience and learn about the traditional industry of Takada, batten racing.

In Joetsu City, production of batten lace began in 1891. At that time, it was a key industry in which one-third of the population of the Takada area was engaged. In particular, Omachi 5-chome, where the “Old Imai Dyeing Shop” is located, was the center of the textile industry.

Mayor Murayama said, “The origin of the history of 130 years of batten lace is Omachi 5-chome. I hope that changing to a workshop centered on batten lace will lead to the liveliness of the town.” I will.

This is a loom that was once used.

The batten lace is made by combining blades woven into a tape with a width of about 1 cm.

At the newly established workshop, the staff of Yoshida Batten Race in Higashihoncho will be stationed to support the experience as well as commentary.

Setsuko Yoshida of Yoshida Batten Race said, “I asked the visitors to touch the handmade batten lace. Even now, a young person told me that my grandmother made it. Joetsu has few places like this, so there are various places. I want people to come and go. “

The visitor said, “This kind of feeling is wonderful. I am happy to be able to go out nearby. Older ones are good.”

Admission to the old Imai dye shop is free. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm. Monday is a closed day. During Golden Week, there will be demonstrations and workshops by artists such as woodwork products, dried flowers, and bead accessories.