Unique dyeing technique only Amami
There is a unique craft that you can only find on Amami Oshima in the world. It’s mud dyeing or Dorozome as it is known in Japanese. Dorozome is one of the processes used to create Oshima Tsumugi fabric. Through this process, the fabric is dyed a glossy black.
What is Dorozome
Originally, mud dyeing is a technique used to dye silk threads before they became fabric. Oshima Tsumugi uses a unique method called “pre-dyeing,” where threads with colors and dots are first created, and then woven into patterned fabric. Threads dyed in the iron-rich mud of Amami Oshima are transformed into a deep, glossy black, creating the signature beauty of Oshima Tsumugi.
Sharinbai Dyeing
Although mud dyeing is the final step in the process, simply dipping the silk threads into mud does not dye them.
First, the threads must be repeatedly dyed in a boiled extract of Sharinbai, a native plant that grows wild on the island. This process is repeated more than 80 times.
The threads are dyed with Sharinbai, then mud-dyed, then dried, again and again, over a period of more than one month, until the deep, glossy black of thread is finally achieved.
Dorozome Craftsman
Takahiro Yamamoto is a craftsman who carries on the traditional mud dyeing technique of Amami Oshima. Using natural plant-based dyes and the island’s iron-rich mud, he creates deep, earthy shades of black and brown through repeated dyeing and binding. The colors he produces reflect the warmth and strength of Amami’s soil itself.
His brand, Amami Earth Color Dorozome, was founded in 2005. Since then, he has dedicated himself exclusively to mud dyeing, expressing Amami’s nature, history, and culture through modern, wearable creations.
His passion for handcrafted work has remained unchanged since the studio’s founding. Alongside deep gratitude for the island’s natural environment, he is also committed to ecological conservation and local community support. Passing down both the technique and its spirit to future generations is at the heart of his mission.
Let’s Try Dorozome
Several local workshops offer hands-on experiences for visitors. Choose your item, such as a T-shirt, scarf, or eco bag, design your pattern, and dye it using traditional methods. Skilled artisans will carefully guide you through each step, making this a relaxed and enjoyable cultural experience for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Create your own one-of-a-kind souvenir while learning about the deep cultural roots of Amami’s textile traditions. At Link Adventures, we take you to authentic working workshops and offer hands-on experiences with English interpretation.
