Known as one of Japan’s “ancient cloths,” wisteria weaving dates back to the Jomon Period (14,000 to 300 BC), and was thought to have died out with industrialization. Unbeknownst to the world, there was a single village located in the mountains of northern Kyoto (Tango region) where a handful of women have kept this ancient art alive by passing it down from mothers to daughters across generations. Thanks to the “Tango Wisteria Weaving Preservation Society” the “Tango wisteria weaving” was designated as an Intangible Cultural Property, and been preserved through exhibitions, workshops and touristic tours organized by the local DMO with a focus on local community, local economy, and environment, and includes wisteria weaving experiences and cultural history tours in the area featuring local artisans.
Keywords: intangible heritage, tradition preservation, community involvement, weaving, artisanal
