Kaishi Paper Container (Tea-things) (Taishi Kan-do)

The original fabric has been kept in Horyu-ji temple in Nara, and according to their biography, it was used by Prince Shotoku (574-622A.D.), but it is unknown how. The name of kanto usually means a striped fabric, but this fabric is a warp-patterned kasuri, cloth with splashed patterns, and was brought to Japan in the Asuka Era (593-710A.D.). This type of kasuri is still produced even today in the areas of Sumatra, Bali and Sumbawa, Indonesia, which requires subtle technique compared to modern kasuri. We made this brocade with our warp-patterned weaving technique expressing the delicate and rhythmical beauty of kasuri of the South as is seen in the original.