Bota-ori is a textile handed down in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is said to have been devised in the Edo period by Kitagawa Ihei Tsuneyoshi, a weaver from Kyoto, on the orders of the lord of the Takamatsu domain, and the year is traditionally given as 1689 (Genroku 2). As the domain's own textile, its technique was kept secret until the Meiji period, and at first it was a high-quality silk fabric that was also used as tribute to the Takamatsu domain and the shogunate. In the Meiji period, the Iwabe family, relatives of the Kitagawa family, inherited the technique and began weaving it in cotton, and it spread among the general public. Based on plain weave, it is woven with the weft (yokoito) floated at intervals, which creates a raised, grid-like texture on the surface like the squares of a go board. It does not cling easily to the skin and offers excellent absorbency and warmth retention. The name is said to come from the meaning 'lasting for many years' (tanen wo tamotsu), because the cloth is durable and can be used for a long time, and it is also used for gifts as an auspicious item. It is a Kagawa Prefecture Designated Traditional Craft, and 岩部保多織本舗 (Iwabe Bota-ori Honpo) in Togiya-machi, Takamatsu City, continues to make sheets, shirts and more.
Origin
According to Kagawa Prefecture materials, Bota-ori was devised in the Edo period by Kitagawa Ihei Tsuneyoshi, a weaver from Kyoto, on the orders of Matsudaira Yorishige, lord of the Takamatsu domain. Sources such as the introduction by the Kagawa Prefecture Product Promotion Organization give the year as 1689 (Genroku 2). The name 'Bota' is said to derive from the idea of 'lasting for many years' (tanen wo tamotsu), as the cloth is durable and long-lasting, and it has been used for gifts as an auspicious textile.
History
In the Edo period, Bota-ori was a high-quality silk fabric; it was supplied to the Takamatsu domain and also became a tribute item presented to the shogunate. It is said that only high-ranking samurai were allowed to wear it, and as the domain's own textile its technique was kept secret until the Meiji period. In the Meiji period, the Iwabe family, relatives of the Kitagawa family, inherited the technique, and Bota-ori spread among ordinary people when the first head of 岩部保多織本舗 began weaving it with cotton thread. The first head is also said to have been quick to make everyday items such as sheets and handkerchiefs.
Features
Bota-ori is based on plain weave, in which the warp (tateito) and weft threads cross one by one. By passing the weft through three times and floating it on the fourth, a waffle-like texture of ridges and hollows is created on the surface. This texture creates gaps between the fabric and the skin, so it is said not to cling to the skin and to feel cool in summer and warm in winter. It is highly absorbent and warm, and it is also durable enough for long use.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
岩部保多織本舗
A long-established business in Togiya-machi, Takamatsu City, that has been making Bota-ori for more than 120 years. It is run by the Iwabe family, which inherited the technique in the Meiji period and popularized cotton Bota-ori. The fourth generation, 岩部卓雄, a Traditional Craftsperson (dento kogeishi), makes sheets, shirts, blouses, samue (traditional work clothes) and more.
吉原潤（デザイナー）
A designer active in Kagawa who tailors clothing from Bota-ori fabric woven by 岩部卓雄. In October 2025, the designer presented Bota-ori fashion at a runway show in Paris, and in November also created the outfits for a Bota-ori show held in front of the East Building of the Kagawa Prefectural Office.
How to Buy
- 岩部保多織本舗 (高松市磨屋町8-3)
- A shop that carries Bota-ori products such as sheets and shirts. It is said to be about a 12-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station. At a 2025 exhibition and sale, a hand-woven muffler was presented at 11,000 yen and a samue at 39,600 yen.
- かがわ物産館 栗林庵 (exhibition and sale)
- A Kagawa Prefecture local products shop next to the East Gate of Ritsurin Garden. In November 2025, a Bota-ori exhibition and sale titled 'From Edo to the Present: Bota-ori Lives On' (江戸から現代へ 生き続ける保多織) was held there, with exhibitors including 岩部保多織本舗. Event schedules vary by season.Where to buy →PR
- ブティックjune
- A boutique that reinterprets Bota-ori for contemporary fashion. At the November 2025 exhibition and sale, a Bota-ori collage stole was presented at 14,300 yen, a tote at 8,250 yen and a mini pouch at 2,970 yen.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. Where does the name Bota-ori come from?
A. It is said to have been named for being durable and usable for a long time, 'lasting for many years' (tanen wo tamotsu). Because of its longevity, it has also been used for gifts as an auspicious textile. It is read 'bota-ori'.
Q. What uses is Bota-ori suited for?
A. Its textured weave does not cling easily to the skin and offers excellent absorbency and warmth retention, so it is often used for items that touch the skin, such as sheets and shirts. At 岩部保多織本舗, sheets are said to be especially recommended, and blouses, jackets, samue and more are also made.
Q. Is Bota-ori used in contemporary fashion too?
A. Yes. In November 2025, a Bota-ori fashion show was held for the first time in front of the East Building of the Kagawa Prefectural Office. In May 2026, Yokoyama Munetaka (横山宗生), a tuxedo designer from Takamatsu City, exhibited a Bota-ori tuxedo at an event in Cannes.