Aizome (Indigo Blue Dyeing) and the “Shinjuku Konya Meguri” Tour
Did You Know Shinjuku is a Dyeing Kingdom? Aizome (Indigo Blue Dyeing) and the “Shinjuku Konya Meguri” Tour The Rich Tradition of Aizome: Exploring Indigo Blue Dyeing and Its Historical Significance Every November, the “Shinjuku Konya Meguri” tour takes place in Shinjuku Ward. “Konya” refers to dyers. During the Edo period, “Aizome” (indigo blue dyeing) dominated the dyeing industry, and dyers were collectively called “Konya” because “Kon” means “indigo blue color” and “Ya” means shop. The name “Kanda Konya-machi” still remains in Kanda, which was a dyeing hub before moving to Shinjuku. “Aizome” is deeply rooted in Japanese life. During the samurai era, indigo blue was favored as a “lucky color.” Even today, most kendo attire is indigo blue. The British scientist Atkinson, who visited Japan in the early Meiji era (1868-1912), described the sight of towns dyed in indigo as “Japan Blue,” symbolizing Japan. The Art of Aizome: From Indigo Dye to Intricate Kimono Fabrics Aizome is a dyeing technique using the plant-based dye “ai” (indigo). The dyed fabric itself is also called Aizome. Plants like Tade-ai and Ryukyu-ai are used. The dye extracted from these plants, known as “indigotin,” is collectively referred to as