The joy and pain of hand crafting Japanese temari balls

(17 Sep 2024)
JAPAN TEMARI BALLS
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTIONS:
LENGTH: 4:37
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kawaramachi, Japan - 5 September 2024
1. Stitches being made on Sanuki Kagari Temari ball
2. Staff at the Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association making temari balls
3. Close of ‘kagari’ stitch
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“It is said that temari, the traditional Japanese embroidered ball, has a history of over 1,000 years. It’s part of Japan's very old tradition. The Sanuki Kagari Temari from Kagawa Prefecture, however, is thought to have primarily been produced during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868.”
5. Various of temari balls on display
6. Araki wrapping the core made of rice husk in thin paper to make a sphere base for temari
7. Araki wrapping around the core made of rice husk with a thread to transform it into a sphere
8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Tomoe Mizobuchi, employee at Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson:
“The most difficult part is making the base of temari, the sphere. This is made by wrapping rice husks in thin paper and then wrapping a string around it until it transforms into a sphere. Even after many years, there are times when it turns out well and times when it doesn’t.”
9. Araki wrapping around the core made of rice husk with a thread to transform it into a sphere
10. Araki showing how to make embroidery guidelines on the sphere
11. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“The most challenging aspect is nurturing successors. It typically takes over 10 years to train them, so you need people who are willing to continue the craft for a very long time.”
12. Araki showing how to make embroidery guidelines on the sphere
13. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“When people start to feel joy along with the hardship that comes with making temari, they tend to keep going.”
14. Various of temari balls on display
15. Araki shows an example of a temari, UPSOUND (Japanese): ‘You first make these complicated guidelines on the sphere, and then using ‘kagari’ stitches, you make 92 of these floral patterns. Layer by layer, you stitch 92 of these flowers.”
16. Various of staff making natural dye for colouring temari threads
17. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“The basics of making Sanuki kagari temari involve using natural materials and techniques primarily from the Edo period.”
18. Staff member dyes yarn yellow using natural dye she just made
19. Various of staff member drying yarn that has just been dyed
20. Various of collection of thread in over 100 different colours on display for making temari
21. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“Out of nothing, something this beautiful is born, bringing joy to people. This is what temari is about.”
22. Various of staff making temari balls
23. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Eiko Araki, Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Association Chairperson and temari craftswoman:
“Through temari, I want to spread the message that there are beautiful things in this world that can only be made by hand."
24. Temari balls on display
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Japanese women are keeping the tradition of temari decorative balls going, one stitch at a time.
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[@littlepigboy]

This is so cool, the world is so interesting ❤