The Upcycle Association, in collaboration with Maida Sengakogei and Kyoto Seika University, will launch the 3rd 'Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui' on April 6. It combines traditional Ishikawa dyeing techniques with sustainable paper yarn.
The Upcycle Association (Location: Osaka City; Representative Director: Hiroshi Morihara), which develops new initiatives that go beyond traditional recycling boundaries through cross-industry collaboration, has produced the 3rd "Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui" in a traditional Japanese craft collaboration with "Maida Sengakogei" (Location: Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture; Representative: Kenji Maida). This product, part of the "TSUMUGI" project that upcycles used paper resources and unused thinned wood into paper yarn, will go on sale starting Monday, April 6, 2026.
A Collaboration Project to Connect the Traditional Techniques of "Kaga Yuzen" and the Global Environment to the Next Generation
Kaga Yuzen, perfected during the Edo period, is characterized by its color palette known as "Kaga Gosai" (indigo, crimson, ochre, dark green, and royal purple) and its picturesque patterns featuring realistically depicted flora. Unlike Kyoto Yuzen, it rarely uses finishing decorations like gold leaf or embroidery, drawing out natural beauty solely through delicate dyeing techniques. At its peak, there were over 350 artists, but today, issues such as a lack of successors have made passing down these cultivated techniques to the next generation a significant challenge.
Amidst this, a project was launched in June 2023 where students from "Kyoto Seika University" create "tenugui" (traditional hand towels) using Yuzen dyeing under the supervision of Hitoshi Maida, a Yuzen artist at "Maida Sengakogei" who participates in the Upcycle Association. The second installment of these products was released in April 2025. The fabric uses "TSUMUGI," a paper yarn promoted by the Upcycle Association made from reborn paper resources and thinned wood, making this a project that passes both traditional techniques and the global environment to the next generation.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: New Product
FAQ
When will the third Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui be available for purchase, and which organizations are behind its production?
The third Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui will go on sale on Monday, April 6, 2026, and it is produced through a collaboration between the Upcycle Association of Osaka City, represented by Hiroshi Morihara, and Maida Sengakogei of Kanazawa City, represented by Kenji Maida.
What traditional dyeing technique and color palette are featured in the Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui, and how does it differ from Kyoto Yuzen?
The Tenugui uses the Edo‑period Kaga Yuzen dyeing technique with the “Kaga Gosai” palette of indigo, crimson, ochre, dark green, and royal purple, and unlike Kyoto Yuzen it rarely employs gold leaf or embroidery, focusing on delicate dyeing alone.
How does the TSUMUGI project contribute to the Upcycled Kaga Yuzen Tenugui, and what materials are transformed into paper yarn?
The TSUMUGI project supplies the fabric for the Tenugui by upcycling used paper resources and unused thinned wood into paper yarn, allowing the traditional hand towel to combine heritage craft with recycled materials.
Which university students participated in the Kaga Yuzen tenugui project since June 2023, who supervised them, and when was the second product installment released?
Students from Kyoto Seika University have been creating tenugui since June 2023 under the supervision of Yuzen artist Hitoshi Maida of Maida Sengakogei, and the second installment of the upcycled tenugui was released in April 2025.
What challenges does the Kaga Yuzen tradition face today, and how does the upcycle collaboration aim to address them?
The Kaga Yuzen tradition faces a shortage of successors and declining numbers of artisans—once over 350 artists—while the upcycle collaboration seeks to engage younger generations by integrating traditional dyeing with environmentally friendly TSUMUGI paper yarn, thereby preserving the craft for the future.