Indigo Dyeing, Continuing from Edo to Modern Life. "Kurobane Aizome Konya" and "Cool Indigo Goods" Held for a Limited Time at Yoyogi-Uehara Folk Craft Shop "IEGNIM"

POP UP featuring "Cool Indigo Goods" from Kurobane Aizome Konya

Roaster Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Akiji Osaki) will hold "Cool Indigo Goods," featuring items by Yutai Onuma, the 8th generation of "Kurobane Aizome Konya" (Kurobane Indigo Dyeing Workshop), which boasts over 220 years of history in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, at the folk craft shop "IEGNIM" in Nishihara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, from July 11 to August 2, 2026. The main table will be dedicated to these items.

It is said that gods reside in indigo. The deep indigo color, born from the hands of the eighth generation inheriting 220 years of history amidst the rich nature of Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture. This time, the lineup focuses on visually cool items perfect for summer living, such as "uchiwa" (fans) and "noren" (shop curtains), as well as "kinchaku" (drawstring bags) and "bags" ideal for outings. Additionally, "sneakers" that develop a unique patina with wear, created by applying traditional stencil dyeing techniques to modern canvas, will also be exhibited and sold.

[Exhibition Period] July 11, 2026 (Sat) - August 2, 2026 (Sun) *Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: For the latest business hours, please check our official Instagram. *Artist in attendance: The artist is scheduled to be present on July 11 (Sat) and July 12 (Sun).

[Business Hours] 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM

[Venue] IEGNIM 3-11-5 Nishi-hara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 1F (1 minute walk from the North Exit of Yoyogi-Uehara Station)

Kurobane Aizome Konya A traditional technique continuing from the Edo period in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture. It uses sturdy cotton fabric, pre-dyed with pine soot (shōen) and soybean liquid, characterized by its deep indigo color and excellent durability. https://www.instagram.com/kurobaneaizomekonya/

Yutai Onuma 8th generation of Kurobane Aizome Konya. While inheriting traditional techniques, he is also expanding the possibilities of indigo dyeing by challenging new forms of expression such as sneakers and spatial design. https://www.instagram.com/aizome_konya/

*If congestion is anticipated before the exhibition, numbered tickets may be distributed to limit the number of visitors.

*Payment for items will be by cashless payment only. *We also have a fun lottery (gachapon) for 500 yen (one coin)! This is cash only (500 yen coins), so please come prepared with coins.

For the latest information, visit our official Instagram.

Interview with Yutai Onuma, 8th Generation of Kurobane Aizome Konya

Kurobane, in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, is surrounded by mountains and flows with clear rivers. In this area, once a prosperous castle town, stands an indigo dyeing workshop that has accumulated over 220 years of history.

The eighth generation, who faces the indigo vats that have breathed underground since the Edo period every day—we interviewed Yutai Onuma of Kurobane Aizome Konya.

While bearing the heavy responsibility of tradition, his stance is completely flat. We delve into the quiet passion of a craftsman who dissolves his own sensibilities into indigo.

Yutai Onuma Profile 8th generation of Kurobane Aizome Konya. While inheriting traditional techniques, he is also expanding the possibilities of indigo dyeing by challenging new forms of expression such as sneakers and spatial design.

Age 24, an Unexpected Turning Point in Life

"Honestly, I was quite full of myself back then."

Recalling his high school days, Onuma looks back with a slight smile. He had the naive expectation that if he took over the family business, he could work whenever he wanted and enjoy a carefree life playing with friends.

However, at the age of 24, just as he was about to start his career after finishing his training in Tokyo, his father suddenly passed away.

"The baseless sense of security that work would be stable as long as my father was around vanished in an instant. Major clients who had trusted my father until then became almost zero. I felt like I was at rock bottom, wondering how I should live from now on."

His daily life collapsed suddenly. All that remained was the historic workshop and himself. The deep despair he experienced at this time would later become the spark that awakened the creativity dormant within him.

The color of indigo, stained into the workshop floor.

A Month of Silence, Only the Sound of a Spatula Echoing During Training

Onuma's solid skills were cultivated during his rigorous training period in Edogawa, Tokyo. He was welcomed into a prestigious lineage connected to a Living National Treasure, and found himself in a strict world of craftsmanship.

"First, they wouldn't even respond when I greeted them. It felt like I was invisible every day. Even when I asked for permission to bring paste, there was no reaction, and when I did bring it, I was yelled at. I desperately held back tears from the unfairness."

What kept him from giving up was his father's strong teaching: "If you abandon the path you've chosen, then leave home." What he recalls as the most difficult part of his training was the basic training in applying paste.

"For a month, every day, I just repeated the motion of moving a spatula on a board in an empty room. It was like practicing sword swings. In the silence, only the sound of the spatula echoed all day long. I was truly afraid I might go crazy."

Repeating the basics relentlessly in an environment where the room temperature exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in midsummer. The training under extreme conditions led to his current precise hand movements. If the paste is not applied uniformly, the dyed result will be uneven. This unwavering, precise technique is the foundation that connects to the tradition of Kurobane indigo dyeing.

It is said that "there are gods in indigo." Every New Year's Day, the first paper dyed that year is enshrined on the workshop's altar.

The Essence of Kurobane Indigo's "Shōen" and "Integrated Production"

What fundamentally distinguishes Kurobane indigo dyeing from other indigo dyeing methods are the unique processes that create its "color" and "strength." While typical indigo dyeing begins with dyeing the threads, Kurobane indigo dyeing uses the extremely rare techniques of "goire" and "shōen dyeing" nationwide.

Goire strengthens the fabric.

"We mix soot generated from burning pine roots (shōen) with soybean liquid and repeatedly rub it into the fabric. This process makes the fabric surprisingly strong. Originally, Kurobane indigo dyeing originated from the happi coats worn by lumberjacks. It is the ultimate in "beauty of utility," capable of withstanding intense work, much like denim."

Furthermore, what is particularly noteworthy is the integrated production process, which is rare in the contemporary craft world. While it is common for design, stencil making, and dyeing to be handled by different artisans in a division of labor system, Onuma handles all of these himself.

"The indigo dyeing industry is basically divided. There are stencil makers, and there are dyers. But we carve our own stencils, make our own paste, and dye it ourselves. By performing this entire process ourselves, we can pursue the expression we desire. Inwardly, I have pride that Kurobane indigo dyeing is different from other indigo dyeing."

The effort and time involved in handling the complex pine soot treatment himself are what elevate Kurobane indigo dyeing to a unique existence.

Stencil carved by Onuma.

Unleashing Tradition, Sharpening Sensibility

During the period of uncertainty after his father's sudden death, the opportunity to see light again came from his resolve to pursue "what he loves."

"If I couldn't make it work, I decided to do what I loved. I don't create just because it sells; I don't want to hand over anything that I can't truly love myself. That is my belief."

From that decision, he focused on the street culture of Harajuku, which he had always liked, and began indigo dyeing sneakers, and developed the free technique of "furi," where patterns are created by flicking paste without using stencils, leading to his current style.

"My mentors and predecessors told me to look at all sorts of things. Art, everyday life... everything becomes nourishment for expression."

On one occasion, he made an unannounced visit to "BUAISOU," an indigo dyeing team from Tokushima that had gained international recognition.

"They knew me, saying, 'Oh, you're the person who dyes sneakers!' I was doing things that were somewhat unconventional, and there was criticism. But the joy of meeting people who recognized me is still vivid in my memory. It gave me great confidence that I could believe in myself."

After that, Onuma's work rapidly spread, including handling the decorations for all guest rooms at Hoshino Resorts "KAI Kinugawa."

"It's frustrating when people hear the name 'Kurobane Indigo Dyeing' and ask, 'What is that?' I want to spread the word about its history and pride, which are different from other indigo dyeing."

Onuma's words, as he spoke, were quietly filled with passion. The color of indigo, born at the moment when 200 years of history intersect with the ambition of a young eighth generation.

Please enjoy it by keeping it close to you.

Text: Hanako Fujita Photos: Yui Fujii

Click here for the interview article.

About IEGNIM

A select shop for folk crafts and crafts, located a 1-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station. We have an online shop and a physical store in Tokyo, offering a wide range of handmade items, primarily folk crafts. As the shop was started by an editor who loves folk crafts, we visit kilns in various regions, write articles about the stories heard from the artisans, and sell pottery along with its background and narrative. We also sell collaborative products with kilns.

Website: https://iegnim.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iegnim_/