【National Designation：Craftsmanship】Miyako Jofu

It is said that the Miyako Jofu textile was created by Inaishi, the wife of Eiga Uji Shinei, at the end of the 16th century. Since its designation as a poll tax in 1637, the textile was required to be exquisite and sophisticated. The Miyako Jofu is characterized by its traditional craftsmanship that has been passed on down the generations to the present day.。
The Miyako Jofu is a textile created with ramie or choma fiber, and is considered to be one of the three high quality cloths in Japan, next to the Echigo Jofu and Ojiya Chijimi (national designation in 1955). The steps involved in its creation, which include hand-spinning of the ramie, design/dyeing, weaving, washing (finishing process), nuki (repairs), and other procedures, are done by experts who have inherited and are passing on their high craftsmanship. (Preservation Group: Miyako Jofu Preservation Society)