TOKUSHIMADeep Blue and Timeless Wood

A Finished Sunburst Panel

Laying the Veneer in a Fan

Feeling the Grain Match

Sukumo, the Fermented Indigo

Dipping Cloth in the Vat

The Finished Japan Blue

A Kumiko Panel Without Nails

Choosing the Right Chisel

Shavings from the Carving

The Depth of the Blue

Applying the Blue by Trowel

Indigo Worked into Mortar

A private journey into Awa indigo dyeing (aizome) and traditional woodwork in Tokushima. You step into the workshops of four master artisans, each carrying a craft Tokushima has practiced for centuries: the deep blue of Awa indigo, fermented without chemicals from leaves the maker grows himself; wood sliced as thin as paper that lines the interiors of some of Japan's most respected hotels; a carpenter who joins wood without a single nail; and a young maker turning ancient indigo into a modern building material. None of these crafts was made simply to be looked at. You see how each artisan works, learn the thinking behind the craft, and shape something with your own hands. This part of Shikoku is rarely included in foreign itineraries. What you find here is craft as the makers themselves practice it, not adapted for visitors.

CustomisableEvery detail can be shaped around you.

Access map: TOKUSHIMA Deep Blue and Timeless Wood

Experience Stories

Woodwork at Mori Kogei

Since 1953, Mori Kogei has supplied wood surfaces to some of Japan's most respected hotels, both at home and abroad. The wood is sliced as thin as paper yet keeps the full warmth of the natural material. You meet the artisan and see how he extends what wood can do through design, while staying within the discipline of the craft.

Awa Indigo at Watanabe Atelier

Watanabe Atelier is one of the few places that handles every step of Awa indigo, from growing the plants in the field to the final dyeing. The colour, often called Japan Blue, is made by the traditional sukumo method and fermented without chemicals. You see how the dye lives in the vat, learn how it changes through the seasons, and dye a piece yourself.

Kumiko Joinery at Tominaga Joiner

Tominaga Joiner has practiced Awa sashimono, the local school of Japanese joinery, since 1895. Under the guidance of a master recognised by the Japanese government as a Contemporary Master Craftsman, you learn how pieces of wood are joined together without a single nail. You also see kumiko, the precise lattice work made by fitting small wooden pieces together at exact angles.

Indigo Concrete: Awa Indigo as a Modern Material

Indigo Concrete is a recent material that mixes Awa indigo into architectural mortar, turning industrial grey into a deep, gradient blue. The work has been shown at the Louvre and in design exhibitions in Japan and abroad. You meet the maker and end your journey with the craft as it is being reshaped for the present.

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