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Japanese Colors: Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka

Explore the beauty of traditional Japanese colors through the work of Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka, a Kyoto dyeing workshop with more than 200 years of history, and Sarasa Yoshioka, its sixth-generation head.

For centuries, the workshop has used traditional botanical dyeing techniques to extract colors from plants and flowers and apply them to natural materials including silk, linen, cotton, and Japanese paper.

The resulting colors reflect Japan's changing seasons and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

More Than 200 Years of Japanese Dyeing Tradition

Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka has continued its dyeing tradition in Kyoto since the Edo period.

The workshop specializes in traditional plant-based dyeing methods, using natural materials to recreate and preserve the colors of historical Japan.

Its work is closely connected with important Japanese temples and traditional cultural events. The workshop has contributed to the restoration of historical textiles and cultural artifacts and has produced dyed Japanese paper used in traditional ceremonies at temples including Todai-ji and Yakushi-ji.

The Beauty of Japanese Botanical Dyes

Japanese plant dyeing has a long history that can be traced back to the Jomon period.

More sophisticated dyeing techniques were introduced from mainland Asia during the Nara period, helping Japanese textile and color culture develop further.

With the introduction of synthetic dyes from the West during the Meiji period, traditional botanical dyeing gradually declined.

The fifth-generation head, Yoshio Yoshioka, dedicated his work to reviving plant-based dyeing and bringing traditional Japanese colors back into contemporary life.

This book documents that ongoing tradition through the work of the Yoshioka family and their Kyoto workshop.

Historical Colors and Traditional Crafts

The book explores the work of Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka through reconstructed works connected with historic temples and traditional Japanese culture.

Featured projects include:

• Reconstructed ceremonial garments associated with Yakushi-ji
• Reproductions of garments inspired by The Tale of Genji
• Traditional dyed Japanese paper
• Botanical dyeing on silk and other natural materials
• Works connected with historic temple ceremonies
• Contemporary installations using traditional dyeing techniques

These projects demonstrate how historical Japanese colors and dyeing techniques can be preserved while continuing to evolve in contemporary creative work.

Sarasa Yoshioka — Sixth-Generation Head

Sarasa Yoshioka, a textile artist and the daughter of Yoshio Yoshioka, became the sixth-generation head of Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka in 2019 following her father's passing.

After graduating from university, she initially worked in the apparel industry before deciding to continue the family's traditional dyeing business.

She later studied weaving and dyeing for two years at the Nomura Silk Museum in Seiyo, Ehime Prefecture, before returning to her family workshop in Kyoto in 2008.

After working alongside her father for 11 years, she inherited the workshop's sixth-generation tradition in 2019.

Today, she continues to work with traditional cultural events such as the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji and the Hanakueshiki festival at Yakushi-ji, while also exploring contemporary applications of traditional dyeing through installations for hotels and commercial spaces.

Her work connects traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern interiors and creative environments.

A Visual Reference for Color and Textile Design

This book is particularly relevant to readers interested in:

• Japanese traditional colors
• Natural and botanical dyeing
• Textile design
• Japanese crafts
• Traditional Japanese culture
• Fashion and textiles
• Interior and installation design
• Japanese art
• Kyoto craftsmanship
• Contemporary applications of traditional techniques

It offers an in-depth look at how natural materials, traditional knowledge, historical culture, and contemporary creativity come together through Japanese color.

About Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka

Some no Tsukasa Yoshioka is a Kyoto dyeing workshop with roots extending more than 200 years to the Edo period.

Using naturally derived dyes and traditional techniques, the workshop works to preserve and bring traditional Japanese dyeing into contemporary creative practice.

Its work has been presented internationally, including a plant-dyed silk work permanently preserved by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2016.

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