We found this wonderfully intersting paper in an antique textile shope in Tokyo (Morito).
It has hundreds of “skins” from the nests of tiny bugs. The Japanese call them bag worms or Minomushi.
They are beautiful in of themselves but to see them sewn into a long obi is mind boggling.
Here is a detail. Can you see some of the tiny stitches?
This is a fragment of an obi that was given to me years and years ago. I always thought it was from silk cocoons but could never figure out how. Now I see that it is also made of Minomushi.
A detail of the obi fragment.
You always have something interesting to share!
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this amazing information!
My mind is blown.
You post the most interesting stuff.
You find the most wonderful treasures! Thank you for sharing your travels and your finds. I always feel a little like I’ve hitchhiked on your shirttails!
Tiny hands made those tiny stitches. The obi is stunning! Did you buy it?