The Power of the Weave, by Tanaka Yuko, Translated by Geraldine Harcourt.
International House of Japan, Nonfiction.
Most of us give little thought about the materials in, or construction of, our daily ensembles, let alone the possibility of them holding historical importance. In the essays within "The Power of the Weave: The Hidden Meanings of Cloth," Tanaka Yuko delves into the history of textile culture in traditional societies, from South America and Asia. Readers are offered different outlets to understand cloth in connection to the human body, nature and art.
Tanaka enlightens us on Yanagi Muneyoshi, founder of the mingei folk craft movement. Although readers are taught Muneyoshi helped preserve the craft, Yuko emerges as a contemporary voice for the power of the weave.
