Peak Season for Traditional Silk Spinning

Shiga, Jul 11 (News On Japan) - In Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, the traditional "ito-tori" process of spinning silk threads by hand from cocoons, used for koto and shamisen strings, is currently in full swing.

At a workshop in the Ooto district of Kinomoto, Nagahama City, women workers skillfully draw about 30 threads from cocoons placed in a pot, bundle them into a single strand, and wind them onto a wooden frame.

This silk spinning technique is said to have a history of around 1,200 years. While it used to be practiced in about 70 houses in this district, the spread of synthetic fibers and aging population have reduced it to this single workshop.

The wound silk threads, known for their elasticity, are suitable for koto and shamisen strings and are shipped to local traditional instrument factories.

Source: YOMIURI

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