It was a crisp winter morning when I made my way across the wooden footbridge of Inokashira Park, making sure to stop in and take the view, before I made my way to a cozy studio. Outside, a sign read “Jota.” The building, with its white walls, wooden door, and large windows, looked as if it was taken right out of picture book. A wind vane in the shape of an airplane turned slightly with the wind. Drawing a breath, I opened the door; I was ready to experience saori weaving in Tokyo for the first time.
What is Saori Weaving?
Hand weaving or “hataori” in Japan has been practiced since the Paleolithic Age, but it was only in 1969 that a new style called “Saori weaving” was introduced. The style focuses of freedom of expression as the characteristic that distinguishes human hand weaving from machines. There is no right or wrong, or any set of rules to strictly follow.You may change colors or materials as you go along; in fact, one of the joys of saori weaving is seeing how different the finished product is from what you initially imagined.
The style was invented by Misao Jo in 1969. Today, her grandson Tatsuya continues the practice in two ateliers in Tokyo: one located in Kichijoji, and one in Jiyugaoka.
A Soothing Experience
The doors of Hand Weaving Studio Jota welcome two kinds of customers: members and trial lesson-goers. I was part of the latter, but as soon as I entered the studio, I felt relaxed. The area is surrounded by trees and sunlight gently beams through the large windows.
Shelves with threads of different colors and textures adorn the walls, and there’s a coding system to tell you which threads are for cooler days, and which are for warmer days. They also determine the price of the materials.
After picking the threads I wanted to work with, I sat by the loom. The staff carefully explained how to prepare the thread and work the loom. For someone who had no prior hand weaving experience, it was pretty easy to follow and I was soon absorbed in my own work. I came to the studio with a friend, and we are usually silly when together, but we were both so immersed in the experience that it was all we could pay attention to. Calling it a meditative practice wouldn’t be a stretch.
The staff came from time to time to check on us as well as to show photos of what other things you can do with saori weaving. Some works had cotton or feathers inserted in between the threads, while others looked like waves. It’s interesting what people can do when they’re free to express themselves.
The studio is open from 10 am to 5 pm, and once you’ve registered, you can go in and out as you wish. There’s a small eating space where you can dine with other people if you’ve brought a packed lunch. Otherwise, you can dine in one of the restaurants in the area. The studio even has a guide indicating which ones are the nearest.
A luncheon mat would take around 2-3 hours to complete, while a scarf would take somewhere around 4 to 6. Anything longer, like a stole or a dress, would probably take two days to complete. The trial lesson comes in one-day or two-day options, so you can choose according to the time you’ll need.
Book a Saori Weaving Experience in Tokyo
You can book a trial saori weaving experience at VELTRA. Although the site is currently in Japanese only, the shop itself has had plenty of foreign visitors in the past and can attend to English-only speakers.
Do note that the price you pay when you book is for the experience only. Additional payment on site is needed for the materials you use. Expect to pat an additional ¥500 for a luncheon mat and ¥1,000 for a scarf.
The experience has truly been a relaxing one for me, and if you’re looking a slice of calm and peace, I recommend trying this one out.
