“Kogin -zashi” is one of Japan’s top 3 sashiko and is a technique transmitted to Tsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture. A charming feature is a design that stitches thread so as to close the rough cloth texture of hemp cloth.

Japan’s Top 3 Sashiko

The top 3 sashiko in Japan is Tsugaru Kogin -zashi · Nambu Hishi-zashi · Shounai Sashiko.
The former two sashiko began with making workwear with only hemp, because of hemp was only one fiber that could be self-sufficient in this area. These area are cold area in japan, so they had to devise durability and heat retention with hemp clothes. That device was stitches.

Meanwhile, Shounai Sashiko was not satisfied with the self-sufficiency of clothing, but because of the distribution of goods in Kyoto and Osaka through the Sea of Japan,They ware able to get old clothes from the city. Shounai Sashuko began with making these durable clothing by piercing these old cloths irrespective of the texture of the fabric.

Stitch like Shounai Sashiko can see the roots in” Sashinou “,” Sashi Tsukuroi “,” Tsukuroi Nui ” in Asuka era. From this time Sashiko is considered to exist all over Japan. However, Kogin -zashi and Hishi-zashi are Sashiko who has developed its own unique development which can not be seen in other regions.

Kogin -zashi and Hishi-zashi say “grid closing stitch” in Sashiko, a technique of a characteristic that stitch threads while counting the grid of the cloth texture and stacks the patterns one by one, a technique is applied to a rough cloth with thick thread I stitch the thread so as to close cloth texture.

Kogin -zashi is known as traditional crafts nationwide because relatively older materials remain, and since the early Showa era has been actively pursuing inheritance as a regional traditional industry. On the other hand, Hishi-zashi has not been known yet and may be incorrectly known as one of Kogin -zashi. However, the local women continue inheriting to the steady and there are 400 kinds of patterns.

Both Kogin -zashi and Hishi-zashi are loved by many as one of the hobby handicrafts that anyone can enjoy easily now.

Sashiko of Aomori

Nambu’s “hishi-zashi” and tsugaru’s “kogin -zashi” which made unique development among sashiko. These name seems to be a different thing. In these two, differences in features are found in the composition and color of the pattern, but the base method is the same, there are parts in common too. Nambu area where the hishi-zashi developed was east side Aomori prefecture and up to the northern part of Iwate Prefecture. but, this hishi-zashi is almost only seen in the area in Aomori Prefecture. It is not clear what kind of historical relationship the two sashiko had.

Nambu Hishi-zashi

◆Feature

• “Kataco” which encloses the motif with a rhombic frame which can be made by horizontally shifting stacked stitches by 2 grit each. The motif grit ratio is vertical: horizontal = 1: 2.
• “Kataco” are aligned one by one making.
• Stitch grid of Kataco consists of an even number. About 400 types or more.
• These motifs has a silhouette like a curve or a circle.
• Originally, linen cloths to be stitched was light light blue color.
• In addition to cotton thread, synthetic fiber, blended yarn and etc for use. And color is rich.

History of Hishi-zashi

The origin of Hishi-zashi is presumed 200 years ago from now. Until 100 years ago, The climate of Aomori prefecture is much different between west Tsugaru and eastern Nambu. Nambu, against fertile Tsugaru, was not easy to get sashiko thread because it was an area where crops do not grow well . Even if cotton fabrics are being circulated from Kanto area since the railway was opened in Meiji, the suffering of farmers’ lives did not improve satisfactorily. I can recognizes the difference in color and material in each one of the motifs in Nambu Hishi-zashi. And it is the spirit of trying to use up precious and valuable threads carefully. Hishi-zashi was mainly stitched on the shoulder of kimono, apron, thighs and gloves. It is said that the apron was actually used until the early Showa era.

Tsugaru Kogin -zashi

◆Feature

• Make a pattern by putting stitches one by one in the entire width of the fabric.
• Contrast of two colors that white cotton stitch and indigo dyed cloth.
• The composition of the foundation pattern (Modoco) consists of counting an odd number thread of fabric grid.
• Depending on the arrangement of Modoco make a bold pattern composition on the full of cloth.
• Modoco is a diamond shaped to be shifted one by one regardless of its size.
• The aspect ratio of the cloth grid is 1: 1.

Kogin -zashi is stitched to workwear for farm work. It is classified into three types in the difference of how to arrange patterns by region.

West Kogin（West side of Hrosaki City ~ Meya）

In this area, there is a characteristic that black threads and white threads are alternately stitched on the shoulder portion, and horizontal striped patterns are applied. This is to prevent friction when carrying heavy loads. Also, in this area, there were many delicate fine clothes woven with fine refining threads, and it was thought that it is high quality and good for formal dress .

Also, many horizontal patterns incorporating the motif Sakasakobu under the striped pattern were observed. This pattern was stitched as a type of curse that can not be bitten by viper while walking in the mountains because there were many people who made charcoal in the mountain village at the time.

East Kogin（East side of Hirosaki City ~ Kuroisi City）

Compared to West Kogin, there was a monotonous pattern and a simple composition on a roughly woven cloth with thick linen.

Mishima Kogin（Around Kanagi of Gosyogawara City）

In this area, Kogin -zashi’s penetration rate is low. (at that time it is thought that cold damage crop production frequently occurred and Kogoin -zashi could not afford life) There are few Kogin -zashi left.

The modernity that arranges a bold thick line that sticks 3 thick horizontal stripes with white and black on the back from the shoulder and the upper part of the chest is a feature that can be seen only in this region.

「Kogin -zashi」word origin

In the Edo period, there was a short work wear of a single clothing of hemp by farmers, called kogin（小巾）. These kimono which reinforced by stitching thread was called “tudure – sashi” or “sashi – kogin”. Imperceptibly, It has been said that sashi-kogin became able to be known with “kogin”.

History of Kogin -zashi

The Tsugaru-han in the Edo era did not allow farmers to wear cotton or silk due to a strict frugality order. So, the farmers were wearing hemp clothes as work wear that could only self-sufficient material. It is said that the beginning of Kogin -zashi started stetching sashiko with hemp thread to achieve even a little even durability and heat retention, which is not a perfectly suitable material as a warm clothing.

In the Meiji era, thrift orders were solved and cotton became delivered to farmers. Due to its remarkably different heat retention and durability than hemp, it slides well as a sewing thread. Because of the ease of working of sashiko, Kogin-zashi has been progressed technique with cotton thread suddenly. However, it was also a short while, as a result of the opening of the railway, highly functional cotton fabrics not requiring sashiko were readily available. Koginzashi declined abruptly around the Meiji 28th in the peak period. It is said that it was hardly doing at the end of Meiji.

It was the magazine ‘Kougei’ No. 14 in February of 1960. It was announced that a signs of resurgence in the declining Koginzashi. Mr. Yanagi became fascinated by Tsugaru Kogin that was introduced from the student from Aomori at the beginning of Showa, and started researching and collecting. These culmination was an announcement at “Kougei” No. 14.

There are a lot of people who are enjoying Kogin　-zashi in instagram. If you look for it with “# kogin” you can find a lot.

• @hitoharico215 also introduces a kind of Koginzashi that I want to touch in blogs.
• @milk.1231 will deliver the koginzashi that plus a little bit of newness, Scandinavian style and traditional koginzashi. Blog is here.
• @prosper_child is making lots of colorful and cute Koginzashi.
• @tekonoko produces her original koginzashi accessories with a novel composition of tradition.

In around 1935, the nationwide craft reconstruction activity occurred. Even in Hirosaki city the kogin Promotion Society was formed in 1943 and began spreading the traditional craft of Kogin　-zashi. Many books have been published for enjoying kogin as a colorful hobby handicraft by increasing color variations due to the influence of the folk art boom around 1965. Kogin lovers appeared, works of kogin　-zashi were released overseas as well. While continued popularity continues, in recent years there are also influences of the hand-made boom and the distribution of kogin　-zashi classroom in various places, distribution of kogin　-zashi production kit, in recent years kogin　-zashi · hishi-zashi is not limited to Japan, everyone in the world know handicraft lovers It is getting.

(References)

“Tsugaru Kogin” Author:Yokojima Naomichi (Nippon Broadcast Publishing Association)

“Revised New Edition Hishizashi Technique” Author:Aiko Hatta & Ayako Suzuki (Art Publisher)