Sakai Teori Dantsu is a hand-woven floor covering that began in Sakai in the late Edo period. Dantsu (pile carpet) refers to thick woven floor coverings; the technique is said to have come from China and spread via the Nabeshima Domain of Hizen to Ako in Banshu and Sakai in Senshu. In Sakai, it began in Tenpo 2 (1831), when the thread merchant 藤本庄左衛門 had 泉利兵衛 weave dantsu and sold them as 'Sakai Dantsu.' It became widely known after being exhibited at the 1st National Industrial Exhibition (Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai) in Meiji 10 (1877). 藤本荘太郎, 藤本庄左衛門's grandchild, who was called the 'Dantsu King,' improved the techniques and personally traveled to the United States to spread it overseas. In the mid-Meiji era, they were shipped in large numbers both in Japan and abroad, and production reached its peak. Woven by hand using techniques that require great skill, the carpets are durable and have a substantial, weighty finish. In 1986 (Showa 61), it was designated an Osaka Prefecture-designated Traditional Craft. In 2006 (Heisei 18), its techniques were also designated an Osaka Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Origin
Dantsu is a technique for floor coverings that came to Japan from the Middle East by way of China. According to Sakai City, its beginnings in Japan lie in production by the Nabeshima Domain of Hizen in the Edo period, and in the late Edo period production also began in Ako in Banshu and Sakai in Senshu. In Sakai, in Tenpo 2 (1831), the thread merchant 藤本庄左衛門 had 泉利兵衛 weave dantsu and sold them as 'Sakai Dantsu.' Osaka Prefecture explains that Sakai Teori Dantsu was born when the technique was improved by the hands of Sakai merchants.
History
Sakai Dantsu became widely known after being exhibited at the 1st National Industrial Exhibition in Meiji 10. In addition to improving the techniques, 藤本荘太郎 traveled to the United States to open up sales channels, and in the mid-Meiji era the industry flourished through exports. According to the Sakai City Museum, the main export destination was the United States. Later, Sakai's floor-covering production expanded into machine-woven carpets, hooked dantsu, tube mats and other products, and southern Osaka became one of the leading floor-covering production areas in Japan. Today, the hand-weaving techniques are handed down by the Sakai-style Hand-Woven Dantsu Technique Preservation Association (堺式手織緞通技術保存協会).
Features
Osaka Prefecture describes Sakai Teori Dantsu as a floor covering made from wool, combining durability and a substantial, weighty quality through hand weaving that requires great skill. On the other hand, according to the Sakai City Museum, Sakai Dantsu in the Meiji era were basically made of cotton in a one-tatami size (90 cm wide). Those exported in large numbers in the Meiji 20s were mainly made of hemp, and because they also suited Japan's hot summers, they were made for the domestic market as well. Wide looms were also developed in the Meiji era, and there are examples of pieces 153 cm wide being joined in numbers and laid in large halls.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Dyeing and doubling yarn
Wool yarn is dyed, and several strands are combined (doubling) to prepare the yarn used for weaving.
- 2
Warping
The warp threads to be set on the loom are prepared in the required number and length.
- 3
Weaving
Based on a hand-drawn design chart called a 'senzu,' colored yarns are woven in by hand to express the pattern. The senzu is also called a 'monzu.'
- 4
Sizing, drying and shearing
The woven dantsu is sized with paste and dried. The pile on the surface is trimmed evenly with dantsu shears (shearing) to finish it. The preservation association also collects tools such as these looms and dantsu shears.
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Artisans & Workshops
堺式手織緞通技術保存協会
An organization that hands down the techniques of Sakai Teori Dantsu. Its secretariat is located within the Osaka Special Textile Industry Cooperative (大阪特殊織物工業協同組合) at 693-5 東山, Naka Ward, Sakai City. In cooperation with Sakai City, it collects materials and tools such as looms and dantsu shears, and passes on the techniques through weaving demonstrations and workshops.
How to Buy
- 堺伝匠館
- A facility for traditional industry products at 1-1-30 材木町西, Sakai Ward, Sakai City. In October 2025, seven pieces of Sakai Teori Dantsu (about 70,000 to 530,000 yen each) were exhibited and sold for a limited time, along with hand-weaving demonstrations by the preservation association. As they are not necessarily on sale at all times, it is best to check in advance.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
堺市産業振興センター（堺緞通の実演）
大阪府堺市北区長曽根町183-5
According to Sakai City, demonstrations of Sakai Dantsu are held on the second floor every Monday from 13:00 to 16:00, where visitors can watch dantsu being woven on a loom. The nearest station is Nakamozu Station on the Subway Midosuji Line, the Nankai Koya Line and other lines.
堺市博物館
大阪府堺市堺区百舌鳥夕雲町2丁 大仙公園内
The museum holds Sakai Dantsu in its collection and has held special exhibitions. Weaving demonstrations on a large loom by the preservation association and workshops for weaving mini dantsu with simple tools (free, application required) have also been held. As these are held irregularly, it is best to check in advance.
View details →FAQ
Q. How is it related to Nabeshima Dantsu and Ako Dantsu?
A. The dantsu technique is said to have come from China to the Nabeshima Domain of Hizen and to have spread to Ako in Banshu and Sakai in Senshu in the late Edo period. Sakai Dantsu was improved by the hands of Sakai merchants and developed in its own way. Its designation as an Osaka Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property is also said to reflect the recognition that it developed uniquely as a hand-woven dantsu technique.
Q. Who was called the 'Dantsu King'?
A. 藤本荘太郎, the grandchild of 藤本庄左衛門, who first marketed Sakai Dantsu. 藤本荘太郎 repeatedly improved the techniques and personally traveled to the United States to spread it overseas. As a result, by the mid-Meiji era Sakai Dantsu was being shipped in large numbers both in Japan and abroad.