芭蕉布（ばしょうふ
Basho-fu）

ばしょうふ
Basho-fu 芭蕉布沖縄県

「喜如嘉の芭蕉布」は重要無形文化財指定。
数年かけ、200本の糸芭蕉から作られる着物。

芭蕉布は、糸芭蕉の繊維から作る沖縄の代表的な織物。古い書物には13世紀頃からすでに芭蕉布は織られていて、15世紀には現在の工程と同じ技法を使っていたと記されているといいます。
糸芭蕉は原皮が採れるまで約3年の成熟を待たなければなりません。また、背丈ほどにもなる糸芭蕉ではありますが、着物には内側のやわらかな繊維を用いるため、着尺一反分には約200本の原木が必要と言われます。芭蕉栽培から、伐採し、繊維を手で裂いて糸にし、織り上げるまで多くの手間と時間、根気が求められます。戦前まで沖縄の各地で織られていましたが、今では大宜味村喜如嘉とごく一部の地域のみ。戦後、芭蕉布の生産が途絶えましたが、平良敏子さんにより復興が遂げられました。
1974年、重要無形文化財として、平良敏子さんを代表とする「喜如嘉の芭蕉布保存会」が保持団体として認定。2000年、平良敏子さん個人が、重要無形文化財「芭蕉布」の保持者に認定、人間国宝となられました。

Basho-fu
Okinawa

The Basho-fu from Kijouka was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset.
To make just one kimono in a process that takes many years, 200 Ito basho trees are felled.

The basho tree is a type of bana tree, and there are three types, Basho Basho and finally Ito bnasho, whicxh is used to m,ake the threads for Bashofu. The word Ito, 糸 is actually japoanbese for thread.
It is said that bashofu has been woven since around the 13th century and by the 15 century its process closely resemble the way it is produced now.
Gathering the thgreads to make a basho fu kimono is extremely arduous, as only the fibre in the innermost part of the tree is soft enough to make thread. Though basho trees can grow about 5 meters in height, it is still required to fell about 200 trees to make just one kimono.
A lot of time, effort, and patience are required to cultivate basho, cut it down, tear the fibers by hand into threads, and weave it into yarn. Until the prewar period, it was woven in many parts of Okinawa, but now it is only in Ogimi Village, Kinyoka, and a few other areas. After the war, production of basho cloth ceased, but was restored by Toshiko Taira.
In 1974, "Kinyoka Bashofu Preservation Society" led by Toshiko Taira was recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 2000, Toshiko Taira was recognized as the holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Bashofu" and became a Living National Treasure.