Reproduction of clothing from Ryukyu Kingdom with emphasis on sewing technique Fusako Kumagai donates pieces to Naha City Museum of History

Reproduction of clothing from Ryukyu Kingdom with emphasis on sewing technique Fusako Kumagai donates pieces to Naha City Museum of History

Fusako Kumagai (front left), director of the Kumagai Wa Ryusai Kimono Vocational School recreated pieces like the toisho and hakama from the Naha City Museum of History collection. (September 16, Naha City Museum of History, Naha)


September 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On September 16, Fusako Kumagai, director of Kumagai Wa Ryusai Kimono Vocational School in Naha, donated four reproductions of official attire from the Ryukyu Kingdom to the Naha City Museum of History. The four reproductions are based on articles in the museum’s collection. Yoko Yamada, curator of the museum, says, “Most of the research on royal attire of the Ryukyu Kingdom thus far has been focused on patterns and materials. In these pieces, the sewing technique has been replicated. It is a major contribution to the study of the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom.”

The donated pieces were made with a focus on reconstructing sewing techniques in a total of four items from the Naha City Museum of History collection: the royal shozoku vestment called a toisho jacket, a shirojidujin white undergarment, hakama trousers, and a mo (or kun) skirt. The material for the toisho jacket was procured from Fujian, China so that the it would be similar to that of the original. However, because the procured material is made from synthetic fibers, the fabric of the original and the reproduction are different.

Director Kumagai says, “Due to insufficient funding, the materials and the workmanship in the toisho are lacking. I want to find a good time to make another reproduction and exchange them.” She continues, “I hope that many Okinawans will come to the Naha City Museum of History and that they’ll take some time to admire the culture of hand-sewing while they are there.”

Curator Yamada says, “The royal garments in the collection can only be on display for 30 days each year because of preservation concerns. I look forward to using Director Kumagai’s donations to the fullest.”

(English translation by T&CT and Ellen Huntley)

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