Children from Ginza and Amami Connect Through Botanical Dyeing: 29th 'Ginza Willow Dyeing' Extracurricular Class at Taimei Elementary School

Ginza Motoji Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Keita Motoji) will conduct the 'Ginza Willow Dyeing' extracurricular class for 5th graders at Chuo-ku Municipal Taimei Elementary School, the only public elementary school in Ginza. This class began in 1998 as part of a local social contribution initiative and is now in its 29th year, having continued uninterrupted even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The curriculum consists of three sessions: 'Willow Pruning,' 'History of Ginza Willows,' and 'Willow Dyeing Practice.' In the dyeing practice, students use 'Amami mud,' sourced from the hometown of founder Hiroaki Motoji and used for Oshima Tsumugi mud dyeing, as a mordant to dye handkerchiefs. Additionally, students collaborate on a 13-meter kimono fabric pre-dyed with willow extract. Since the 20th anniversary in 2017, students from Taimei Elementary and the founder's alma mater, Oshima-gun (5th graders at Tatsugo-cho Okachi Elementary School in Amami Oshima), have exchanged video letters introducing their local history and culture, followed by an online exchange class during the third session. The Ginza Willow Dyeing project began about 32 years ago when Ginza Motoji, then located on Willow Street in Ginza 1-chome, saw willow branches being pruned in early summer and wondered if they could be used for a unique Ginza botanical dye. Following a request from Taimei Elementary, the program was launched in 1998 to foster imagination, love for the local community, and respect for nature. Through the class, children learn the joy of craftsmanship and the beauty of nature by collecting pruned branches and experiencing the diverse colors of willow dye. Ginza Motoji intends to continue this activity to bridge the gap between the metropolis of Ginza and the nature of Amami Oshima.