UNAN, Shimane Pref. (Kyodo) A father-daughter embroidering team in Shimane Prefecture is creating silk scrolls depicting scenes from the 11th century “Makura no Soshi” (“The Pillow Book”), hoping to keep the traditional art alive.
Yoshihiro Kimura, 65, and his daughter, Chizuru, 41, said they want to revive the embroidery industry, which is ailing because competition with China and Southeast Asia, where labor costs are cheaper, has intensified.
Each scroll, about 2 meters long, depicts scenes from the famous work written by court lady Sei Shonagon. It will take two to three years for one person to complete each scroll, they said.
“Once a craft is lost, it is difficult to revive it. I want many people to realize the beauty of embroidery through this project,” Yoshihiro Kimura said.
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