Sanuki Kagari Temari (Embroidered Thread Balls)
Sanuki Kagari Temari (Sanuki Stitched Thread Balls)
Sanuki Kagari Temari are temari (thread balls) from Kagawa Prefecture whose geometric patterns are created by stitching cotton thread dyed with plant dyes, one stitch at a time. Temari are said to have come to Japan from China in the Heian period. In the Edo period, temari made with plant-dyed thread spun from cotton, one of the Sanuki Sanpaku ('three whites of Sanuki': salt, sugar and cotton), were widely made in Seisan (western Kagawa Prefecture). They declined when rubber balls became common in the Meiji period, but Araki Kazuo, then an employee of Kagawa Prefecture, carried out repeated research and in 1977 (Showa 52) named them 'Sanuki Kagari Temari.' In 1983 he founded a preservation society together with his wife, Yaeko, and in 1987 (Showa 62) they were designated a Kagawa Prefecture Designated Traditional Craft. They are characterized by the matte texture unique to cotton thread and gentle colors. At the workshop of the 讃岐かがり手まり保存会 (Sanuki Kagari Temari Preservation Society) in Takamatsu City, visitors can try making temari.
Origin
Temari are said to have come to Japan from China in the Heian period, and as they were enjoyed as children's playthings, beautiful patterns unique to Japan were devised. In Kagawa during the Edo period, temari made with locally produced cotton thread dyed with plant dyes are said to have been widely made in the Seisan region. They are temari born of a cotton-producing area, cotton being counted among the Sanuki Sanpaku.
History
When rubber balls spread in the Meiji period, the making of cotton temari was gradually forgotten. Araki Kazuo, an employee of Kagawa Prefecture who was also enthusiastic about the mingei (folk crafts) movement, learned of the cotton temari handed down locally and set out to research them. In 1977 (Showa 52) he named them 'Sanuki Kagari Temari,' and in 1983 (Showa 58) he and his wife, Yaeko, founded a preservation society in Kanonji City. They were designated a prefectural traditional craft in 1987, and today 荒木永子 carries on the wishes of the two.
Features
The thread is dyed in dye baths made by extracting pigments from plants. Because cotton does not take plant pigments easily, it is first prepared by soaking it in gojiru (liquid squeezed from soybeans). Natural substances are also chosen as the mordants that fix the color, and layered dyeing produces soft colors. For the core, rice husks wrapped in thin paper are used, and when the stitching needle touches the rice husks, it makes a crisp 'saku' sound.
Techniques
Jiwari (Dividing Lines)
First, guide lines called jiwari lines, which divide the base ball into equal sections, are stitched with thread. The ball is likened to the Earth and divided using the North Pole, South Pole and equator as reference points, with the number of divisions changing according to the pattern. These lines serve as guides for creating precise geometric patterns.
Kagari (Stitching)
Using the jiwari lines as guides, the thread is passed back and forth in a regular way to form the pattern. By layering the thread many times over, geometric patterns emerge. Because straight-line patterns are stitched onto the curved surface of a sphere, a soft expression unique to temari is created.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Dye the thread with plant dyes
Cotton thread is dyed in dye baths made by extracting pigments from plants. Because cotton is hard to dye, it is first prepared by soaking it in gojiru, and with natural mordants bringing out gentle colors, it is dyed in layers to produce a range of light and dark shades.
- 2
Make the base ball
A core is made by wrapping rice husks in thin paper. Fine cotton thread is then wound around it at random until the paper can no longer be seen, finishing it into a perfectly round base ball.
- 3
Stitch the jiwari lines
The jiwari lines, which serve as guide lines for the pattern, are stitched so as to divide the base ball into equal sections. The North Pole, South Pole and equator are used as reference points, and the number of divisions is decided according to the pattern to be made.
- 4
Stitch the pattern
Using the jiwari lines as guides, the thread is passed back and forth in a regular way and layered many times to create geometric patterns. Patterns range from ones like the 'asanoha' (hemp leaf) pattern made in the hands-on experience to elaborate designs with many flowers lined up.
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Artisans & Workshops
讃岐かがり手まり保存会
An organization founded in Kanonji City in 1983 by Araki Kazuo and his wife, Yaeko. It is headed by 荒木永子, who was certified as a Kagawa Prefecture Traditional Craftsperson in 2006, and in 2010 it opened a workshop in Takamatsu City. More than 100 members are said to make temari at the workshop.
Official site →How to Buy
- 讃岐かがり手まり保存会 (workshop and online store)
- Temari can be purchased at the workshop at 2-3-16 Kanko-dori, Takamatsu City, as well as through the online store. As of October 2026, yui-temari straps are 2,970 yen, and temari are offered at prices from the 10,000s to the 40,000s of yen. A temari kit for beginners, 'Yaegiku' (八重菊), is sold for 4,510 yen.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
讃岐かがり手まり保存会 工房
香川県高松市観光通2丁目3-16
The short 'Choppiri Taiken' (1 to 1.5 hours), in which you stitch an 'asanoha' pattern, costs 3,300 yen, and the in-depth 'Jikkuri Taiken' (2 to 2.5 hours), in which you can choose the pattern, costs 5,500 yen. Reservations are required at least three business days in advance, and the workshop is closed on Sundays and public holidays. It is about a 5-minute walk from Kotoden Kawaramachi Station, and there is no parking.
View details →FAQ
Q. What is the Sanuki Sanpaku?
A. It is a term for the three things known as specialties of Sanuki: salt, sugar and cotton. Sanuki Kagari Temari use cotton thread made from the cotton among these, dyed with plant dyes. The matte texture and simple colors unique to cotton thread are the hallmarks of Sanuki temari.
Q. What is inside a temari?
A. The core is made of rice husks wrapped in thin paper. Fine cotton thread is wound over it to form the base. When the needle touches the rice husks during stitching, it makes a crisp 'saku' sound. In recent years, temari containing natural fragrances have also been made.