OGIMI, Okinawa Pref. -- Until recently, visitors to this village would have seen elderly women -- many in their 90s or older -- patiently making banana-fiber thread while sitting on sunny verandas and weaving it into traditional fabric.

The drift toward nursing homes, however, has seen this art become increasingly rare in recent times and villagers are worried the traditional craft may die out -- along with the supposed longevity it brings to its practitioners. The fabric, "bashofu," is a trademark product of Ogimi, located about 87 km north of Okinawa's capital Naha.

"There has been a sudden rush of elderly people to nursing homes," said Mieko Taira, managing director of the local association of textile makers.

"The era of staying active for one's whole life is over. It is an unexpected phenomenon," she said.

"Ten years ago there used to be about 150 people involved in making the fabric. But now the number is down to 70, with only 30 people who can actually weave."

Bashofu is made from the stalks of a type of banana tree that does not bear fruit. The plants are especially suited to the local soil, which is too acidic for other crops.

The history of bashofu dates back hundreds of years to when the prefecture was an independent kingdom. In the olden days, bashofu was produced all over Okinawa.

The relative coarseness of the fabric is suited to the area's sub-tropical climate and it has been used widely by people from all walks of life, from palace officials to farmers.

The village's Kijoka area became famous for its high-quality bashofu in the 1930s, winning prizes in contests. Ironically, the acclaim heaped on Kijoka bashofu led to the tradition dying out in other areas of Okinawa, Taira explained.

Yet, Kijoka bashofu might have been doomed to the same fate without Taira's mother-in-law, Toshiko, 79, who has dedicated her life to the revival of the tradition since returning to her hometown from mainland Japan after World War II.

She organized local war widows to produce the fabric and was later designated a living national treasure. She has also been credited with elevating the household craft to a booming cottage industry, with novel ideas to create commercially viable products such as tablecloths, which became very popular with Americans.

The weaving of bashofu is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that can take between three and six months, as the entire process is done by hand.

The villagers say that an efficient division of labor enables people of all ages to make some contribution.

For example, cutting the banana plants requires the strength of the young, while forming the stalk fibers into smooth thread demands the patience and skill that only experienced hands possess.

Yet the commercial aspect of bashofu-making is not its only advantage, with many people attributing the village's famed longevity to the craft.

As of the end of March, there were 77 people aged 90 or over among the village's population of 3,500. This figure is high even for Okinawans, who have the longest average life span in the country.

Local legend Nabe Kinjo, who died in February 1998 aged 110, is known to have said: "If this (bashofu) work is taken away from me, I will be left with nothing. I am finished when I cannot do this any more."

But as the elderly increasingly relinquish the craft, villagers worry that the art will die out, along with the longevity that it brings.

"Having stimulating work every day, without depending on others, has been a key to longevity," Taira said.

The recent drift toward retirement has left the industry with a pressing need to pass on the torch to the younger generation. Even if there were people willing to take up the craft, however, training facilities and teachers are difficult to find as bashofu-making was developed as a household craft.

In addition, industry insiders fear the craft may be removed from Okinawa and passed on to "outsiders."

"We just don't want people from the mainland who become attracted to the laid-back rural life here. We want native Okinawans," said Taira, who came here from Fukui Prefecture.

"It's not just about techniques, it's about the spirit and culture behind those weaving the fabric. For out-of-towners like me, it is a wonder that locals do not appreciate such a significant tradition."