Kumihimo: The Lost Japanese Art of Braid-Making 

While I appreciate the effort of this video, and it's message, I feel it incumbent upon me to point out a few things that need correcting.. I have been studying kumihimo since 1979, where I started at the Dômyô school in Tokyo. Firstly, kumihimo is not "lost," and, in fact, there are still hundreds, if not thousands of people still braiding by hand. Compared to what it was 50 years ago, it is safe to say it may be a "dying" art, but there are still several schools teaching kumihimo to the public in Japan, including Dômyô, Iga, and Hakubi Kimono and Kumihimo Gakuin. And, surprisingly, there are hundreds of people doing kumihimo outside of Japan. And, in in October 2019, the 4th International Kumihimo Conference was held in Iga Ueno, with several hundred attendees from 13 countries. Many of the classes were taught by non-Japanese, including yours truly, who taught a takadai class. As for the dai, the ayatakedai is not actually related to the takadai at all. It is a completely different type of kumihimo, which is actually very closely related to tablet weaving. It is the only form of kumihimo which uses a fixed warp, and a double weft thread which is usually invisible. The takadai is a braiding stand, which can create simple to extremely complex braids, using as many as 244 tama, or even more. Full lenth, full width obi have been made on extended versions of the takadai. The marudai (pronounced "Mah-roo-die), can be used to make flat, round, rectangular, square, and even triangular and other polygonal braids. It is the most versatile of all of the dai, and can also be used to make extremely complex braids, using as many as 144 tama. And you missed two other types of dai - the kakudai, or "square stand", which can make braids similar to those of the marudai, but the braid forms upwards instead of downwards; this allows unique structures to be made. The other is called the Karakumidai, and is a dai dedicated to one specialized type of braid called Karakumi (or Karagumi). It is a technique that came from China (thus the "kara" or 唐　which is used to denote something that came from China or is Chinese in style. In typical Japanese fashion, they took this technique far beyond its original form and expanded it to make sumptous ceremonial sashes called "Hirao," which could be 6"-8" wide, over 10 feet long, use over 300 threads, and take up to a year and a half to complete. Fukami Jusuke was the last National Living treasure to carry on this tradition, although he taught a number of people, so it is not a lost art; but its practitioners are truly few. Makiko Tada is a phenomenal teacher and kumihimo artist, who has produced a seminal series of instructional books called "組紐総覧” or "Comprehensive Treatise of Braids" which is now up to 7 volumes. Her quest has been to spread kumihimo around the world, and she is doing an excellent job of it. Her creation of the foam Kumihimo Disc and Kumihimo Plate has most certainly contributed to this spread, and made kumihimo accessible to just about anyone. And other non-Japanese, such as Rodrick Owen and Jacqui Carey, have made significant contributions in both the areas of teaching and publishing of kumihimo books. And there is now the American Kumihimo Society, headed by Adrienne Gaskell, which is making its mark and helping to keep kumihimo going in an number of ways, both traditional and innovative. The Braid Society in the UK has also been a long-time contributor to the continuance of and education about kumihimo. Thank you, however, for your effort and for helping to bring kumihimo to the world consciousness!

this is some professional-level editing right here

This is not a lost art. I have been making kumihimo braids for years and know people around the world who also do it who are not Japanese or have any connection to Japan. It is a beautiful art form and I love it!

I do the foam disk Marudai & square plate Kumihimo. I use embroidery thread, waxed Brazilian cord, S-Lon, C-Lon, B-Lon, Tex-400, Tex-70, rattail, yarn, eyelash yarn, etc. I find it very relaxing & therapeutic, a great way of meditation, & really helps with my anxiety & my habit of picking nails & scabs, & my self injurious behavior or S.I.B. for short. I love the sounds when you pick up the threads from a slot on the foam disk or plate. I use beads in my braids. It's so satisfying when the braid grows & emerges from the hole of the disk/plate.

Came from reddit! This is absolutely beautiful! From the shots, to the editing and music choice! Great job! :D

I stumbled here from Reddit too. This is a video masterpiece. A topic that I have never heard of or even would normally be interested in and you had me from start to finish. Just wow! You have earned a subscriber from New Zealand!

0:04 I use a flat wooden popsicle stick or a wooden ruler with a metal "blade" for the wooden "Sword" for anying braiding that requires perfection & even tension.

Hello I cam from a movie kimi no no wa and learned that this art is super cool

Another great one. I love what you’re doing. Keep being creative!

Once again, well done!

I found this video after going on a kumihimo deep-dive starting with the TEWAZA video I saw you used footage from (funny how that works :)). This is a lot more information than I could've found on my own, with stunning presentation to match, so thank you!

beautiful, thank you for sharing! very underrated craft

Que belleza de arte, el kumihimo, gracias por compartir, saludos desde Costa Rica 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷 🇨🇷

This is a beautiful video and I hope more people do still do kumihimo in Japan than you say. But I know people around the world do still keep it alive in some aspect, most making jewelry out of it. I really enjoy it. If I could afford all the stuff to learn every braid, I would absolutely love to.

Please keep up the good work. 💖

Great video, With great presentation... good job !!!

I'm stunned! How do you get such beautiful shots wow!

Nice short history lesson.

I do have one question. I have always been really into braid-making and bracelet making in general, and I have recently been trying to make the kumihimo of mitsuha's (the one she gives to Taki in the past) and was wondering if anyone knew if it was even a possible pattern to create. I am super interested in this.

I only know how to make friendship bracelets with it. Just to satisfy my knot tying curiosity.

Great video !

Man every country and continent always never runs out of culture do they

If only we get tutorials for those gorgeous flat kumihimos

In excess of 200+ tama for a single braid depending on need. Might want to up your numbers a bit there

Really hope I can find someone to make me two authentic one's. One for me and my best friend.

Excuse me, what's the name of the song?

It's not a lost art tho, a bunch of people in and outside of Japan do this, my friend makes it on stream too hahaha

Can work towards Japan Practice in 2022?

I remade the circle en carton y el cuadrado....yo espero que esto qye duce es cierto sino yikes invented esto en los 80's sino como muchas cosas que hago mi abuela Ines me decia muchas de esas cosas que haces las hiciste create inventaste en el pasado.

"Kumihimo" means "Lust for rubber" in Finnish

hi, is there any way to contact the schools of braiding you mentioned in your video?

Who else is here after watching Kimi no na wa?

Kimi no nawa

Kumihimo is not lost.😂