"When I first moved here after getting married, it felt like I had wandered into a fairytale land. I dove in without knowing how Kurume Kasuri was made or how difficult the process was."

These are the words of Sayaka Ikeda, wife of Daigo Ikeda, the fourth-generation owner of the Ikeda Kasuri Textile workshop.

Originally from Chiba Prefecture, Sayaka moved to Fukuoka City, her father's hometown, when she was in junior high. After becoming an adult, she sometimes moved to other prefectures for work. During this time, she met Daigo through a mutual acquaintance.

"A coworker who happens to be a distant relative of my husband, introduced us because I like movies, music, and books—she thought we would have similar tastes. It wasn't suddenly about marriage or anything big—at first, I just hoped to make a new like-minded friend."

As their friendship grew and she started to think about marriage, Sayaka learned that Daigo's family business was Kurume Kasuri weaving. What did she feel then?

"I had vaguely heard of Kurume Kasuri, but when I searched online, I learned it was an Important Intangible Cultural Property. Still, I had no idea how deep the world of traditional craft actually was. Since it was totally unknown to me, my imagination had its limits. After agonizing over it, I just thought, 'If I can help in any way, that would be good,' and decided to marry him."

However, when Sayaka visited the workshop for the first time, she was overwhelmed by its scale.

"Since my husband and I usually met outside, I had never actually seen the workshop. Stepping inside, I saw rows of handlooms and vats for indigo dyeing—it was on a much larger scale than I had imagined. To be honest, I wondered what I had gotten into, and felt a wave of nerves, not knowing if I could really do this."

Despite her anxieties, Sayaka took her first step as a member of a family upholding tradition.

Letting Go of Perfection in Work & Family

Her husband, Daigo, is often away for one to two weeks at a time not only for his craft work but also due to exhibitions and business trips. Meanwhile, Sayaka takes on a wide range of duties, including bookkeeping, assisting customers in the shop, as well as tasks like winding yarn and warping threads in preparation for the weavers—both of them lead very busy lives.

She recalls that the first wall she hit was adapting to the "atmosphere."

"The weavers are like an old-fashioned family; in the workshop, everyone operates within a shared sense of presence. There's this feeling, almost like a silent understanding, where communication about work tasks naturally flows with just a word or two. For me, the hardest part was having to immerse myself in that atmosphere."

Before marriage, when she worked as an office employee, she would get used to the job within about six months and be considered a full-fledged worker in a year. However, at the workshop, not only did she have to learn new skills, but she also had to understand and accept a lifestyle and customs different from what she was used to.

There’s no manual for the work, so she had to learn everything by watching. But she often had no idea why she was doing certain tasks, or how everything was connected. For a while, her days felt like a repetition of activities she didn’t yet understand.

"Here, if you don’t take a long-term perspective—five, ten, or even fifteen years—your spirit could be crushed."

In addition, balancing childcare, housework, and creative work turned out to be far tougher than she imagined.

"I'm the type who likes to focus intently on one thing at a time, but that's just not always possible here. There are so many times when I have to be content with something being only 50 or 60 percent done before moving on to the next task."

When her child was just born, she would bring her child to the workshop and juggle work and parenting all day—mentally and physically, it was a tough season. Still, as her child gradually grew more independent and she found more time to focus on her work, she started to feel herself making progress bit by bit.

For Sayaka, a form of stress relief has been watching movies at night, even if it means sacrificing sleep.

"Time spent doing what I love is the greatest source of comfort."

Passing Down Kurume Kasuri in Ways that Fit Today’s Life

It’s been five years since Sayaka became a member of Ikeda Kasuri Kobo. Even now that she’s gotten more comfortable with her work, she tries not to lose sight of her perspective as a consumer.

"For my husband, Kasuri is a fundamental part of his childhood. When he looks at Kasuri, he sees images of his grandparents and parents working—it all overlaps in his mind. I don’t have that same viewpoint, but maybe that’s exactly why I can look at things more objectively."

Sayaka believes that for traditional crafts to maintain their value into the future, they must be things people find necessary in today’s life.

"Watching not just my family, but many others work to carry on Kurume Kasuri, I truly feel the meaning behind passing down a traditional craft. But tradition alone doesn’t guarantee a future. If it’s not needed in today’s world, it can’t survive. I want Kasuri to continue as something relevant—something useful now. That’s why I want to keep innovating and finding new ways to connect Kasuri to the future."

She’s also fascinated by Kasuri’s practicality.

"Kasuri dries quickly and is gentle on the skin. Indigo dye has natural antibacterial and deodorizing qualities, and even works as a sunblock, so I think it’s perfect for outdoor scenarios. I want to keep exploring new ways to make Kasuri a part of modern everyday life."

On the other hand, Sayaka says she values taking time for inspiration, especially through music and movies.

"I used to go to music festivals and similar events, but that’s tough to do now. With craftwork, I often feel like I’m constantly outputting. So I try to deliberately make time for input too—it’s important to welcome new sensations so that creation doesn’t become stagnant."

Valuing Your Own Feelings Together with People You Trust

When asked, "If you could give advice to yourself before getting married, what would you say?" Sayaka replied:

"It's only natural to feel anxious when stepping into the unknown. Even though I had some professional experience, having changed jobs before, here I was starting completely from scratch. There was so much I needed to build up. That's why I'd like to tell my past self, 'Life is a lifelong journey of learning.'"

Sayaka shared that she leaned on the support of her friends as she embraced new challenges.

"There's a saying that friends are the most important people to have—it's not as if you're struggling alone. You can always sense that there are people cheering you on behind the scenes.

"These days, I don't get to see my friends in person as often, but with smartphones, we can connect no matter where we are. Sometimes, just exchanging messages can really be a source of comfort. Women often seek empathy rather than understanding, and just by having someone relate, it can lighten your heart.

"By confiding in people you trust while listening to your own feelings, you can move forward. You won't get stuck forever, so if you feel even the slightest urge to take on a challenge, I hope you'll take that first step."

In every word Sayaka shared, you could sense both flexibility and strength—much like the Kasuri fabric produced by Ikeda Kasuri Textile. Her thoughtful perspective and genuine passion for craftsmanship rooted in tradition are sure to drive the continued evolution of Kurume Kasuri.