noren

noren

Flowers

This katazome-dyed noren (tapestry) was made from a one-stroke drawing of bird of paradise flowers, and heliconias—flowers that bloom in Okinawa during the summer.

shoppingpage

Heliconia

This heliconia belongs to the banana family, and its beak-like bracts are found in bright colors such as red, yellow, and green.
They are in bloom between the rainy season (mid-June) and summer time, but they do not last long as cut flowers.

This piece was dyed to create a gradient of indigo. A bird of paradise is on the top left.
shoppingpage

Papaya fruit

This piece features the tropical papaya fruit. Okinawan people eat green papaya stir-fried like a vegetable. But, I prefer well-ripened orange papaya. I tried to make this piece so that the image appears even more delicious than real papayas. If you plant the black-brown seeds, they sprout quickly and grow fast.

Piano Basho

I thought of this design after working with a classical vocalist. The piano is a Steinway. I like the sparkling sound quality of this piano.

shoppingpage

Eisa

The biggest event in Okinawa is Eisa. Eisa is a centuries-old tradition, unique to Okinawan culture. It is a type of folk dance accompanied by singing, chanting, and drumming. It is held for three consecutive days, July 13-15th of the lunar calendar, to pay respect to the ancestors and mark the end of the Obon season. On the last day, ukui, Eisa is performed after the people see off their ancestors. This piece depicts Eisa that originated in the Heshikiya area on Central Okinawa’s Katsuren Peninsula.

Fusanari Tsuru Nasubi

This plant’s proper name is Fusanari Tsuru Nasubi. But, the shortened name stuck with me, and I chose that name for this piece. Fusatsuru Nasubi plants grow like a vine and bear purple-blue flowers. Their fruits are scarlet red, about 1 cm in size. This tiny plant is hard to notice but very pretty. It grows in my garden next to the Campsis gradiflora (Chinese trumpet vine).

Frog

This piece depicts a frog jumping into a rice plant.

tapestry

Papaya fruit

This piece features the tropical papaya fruit. Okinawan people eat green papaya stir-fried like a vegetable. But, I prefer well-ripened orange papaya. I tried to make this piece so that the image appears even more delicious than real papayas. If you plant the black-brown seeds, they sprout quickly and grow fast.

shoppingpage

Sugar cane flowers

Sugar cane flowers look like the plumes of Japanese pampas grass. It is said that sugar cane flowers swaying in the wind mark the beginning of winter in Okinawa. This design shows fully bloomed sugar cane flowers right before the harvest.

shoppingpage

Fusanari Tsuru Nasubi

This plant’s proper name is Fusanari Tsuru Nasubi. But, the shortened name stuck with me, and I chose that name for this piece. Fusatsuru Nasubi plants grow like a vine and bear purple-blue flowers. Their fruits are scarlet red, about 1 cm in size. This tiny plant is hard to notice but very pretty. It grows in my garden next to the Campsis gradiflora (Chinese trumpet vine).

shoppingpage

Oogomadara

The biggest butterfly in Okinawa is called Oogomadara (Idea leuconoe). They are also known for their golden pupas. I drew this Oogomadara to appear flat, fluttering between hibiscuses and pothos (devil’s ivy).

Basho

Basho is Okinawan for banana tree. This piece depicts a banana tree that grows in my garden. It has borne many bananas. We pick the bananas before they ripen—when they are still green and hard, like in this tapestry. Also, its huge leaves come in many interesting shapes that make for perfect kitchen decorations.

shoppingpage

Bera

Bera live in various seas throughout Japan. Multi-colored Bera even live in the shallow beach near my house. If you crush a sea urchin and hold it 50 cm underwater, these fish will come to eat it. I made this piece with inspiration from such an experience.

shoppingpage

Strelitzia A

Strelitzia are flowers that are believed to bring happiness. This piece was dyed onto a light fabric perfect for summer.

shoppingpage

Strelitzia B

Strelitzia are flowers that are believed to bring happiness. This piece was dyed onto a light fabric perfect for summer.

shoppingpage