Masako Kinoshita's Home Page

Kumihimo

Masako Kinoshita specializes in the Japanese braiding techniques of Kumihimo, using a stand and bobbins, and Kute-uchi, an archaic technique that predates the stand-and-bobbin method. She teaches both techniques in 1- to 4-day workshops at various levels and in 3-hour hands-on introductory mini-courses at conventions and guild programs. She also gives lectures on the history of Japanese braiding techniques and on tracking braid structures.

Kumihimo braids are made using a stand to support the strands, the ends of which are wound on weighted bobbins. For the workshops, the stand and bobbins, made of wood, may be purchased, or built at home using cardboard for the stand and bolts and nuts for the bobbins.

The term Kute-uchi was coined by Masako Kinoshita and refers to a set of braiding techniques which she reconstructed from a cryptic record of proprietary techniques found in a nineteenth century treatise; Kute-uchi requires no tools other than a beating sword for tightening the structure. She has proven that these techniques were used to construct the 7th century braids in the Horyuji Treasures at the Tokyo National Museum, the 8th century braids in the Shosoin Treasures, and all the well-known braid treasures from the 10th to 16th centuries, such as the ryomen kikko (double face tortoise-shell design) braid at the Mitake Shrine, Ome-shi, Tokyo. She has also shown that kute-uchi was an essential industry in supporting the vast demand for lacing braids used in Japanese armor from ancient times through the Middle Ages. 

Reconstructed Kute-uchi braids collection no. 1 

Reconstructed Kute-uchi braids collection no. 2