Ms. Takako Aiba, who organizes tea ceremony, kimono dressing, and knotting classes, was invited as an instructor. 18 participants and 2 remote participants learned about "Knots" and silkworms, experienced braided silk strings, and made amulets.

The event was held at the request of the previous one held in February, which was greatly appreciated.

After lightly nibbled on kakinoha sushi (a bite-size pressed sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves), participants enjoyed a bowl of matcha tea and "Kikka mochi" by Ikkoan.

The lecture began with a detailed explanation of the history, usage, etymology, types, and meaning of "Knots" by Ms. Aiba. She also talked about the meaning of various traditional knots such as mizuhiki and shimenawa, which are still familiar to us today, as well as silk. The participants seemed to have their pride in Japanese culture and intellectual curiosity stimulated once again by Ms. Aiba's rich and detailed talk.

The venue also featured a demonstration of braiding cords with silk threads on a round stand, followed by a hands-on Kumihimo braiding experience. The elegant sound of the round wooden spools wound with silk threads echoed in the hall.

In the "Knotting" workshop, participants chose a braid of their choice and tried their hand at making an "agemaki" knot to create an amulet charm. The knot, styled after the Japanese character for 'person' (人), which was taught to the participants, is believed to have been used to ward off evil spirits and was also used on the backs of armor in ancient times.

A braid was prepared for each participant by Ms. Aiba, who had meticulously crafted each one, spending about two hours on each piece. The participants deeply appreciated the effort and care invested into each braid, reflecting on the life of silkworms and the cultural significance of the knots."

For the first time, we had online participants from Kochi and Australia.

The session ended with comments from each of the participants and words of gratitude to Ms. Aiba from everyone.

See more photos >>>