Furafu are large hand-painted, dyed banners flown alongside koinobori (carp streamers) in Kochi Prefecture for Boys' Day (Tango no Sekku). When a boy is born, his parents and relatives order a Furafu bearing the family crest and the child's name and present it as a wish for his healthy growth. They are characterized by bold designs painted in vivid colors on cotton cloth, such as Kintaro, Momotaro, warriors, dragons and tigers, and the large ones can exceed 5 m in width. The name is said to be a corruption of the Dutch word for flag, and Furafu are also said to have been inspired by tairyo-bata (big-catch flags). The custom is seen mainly in areas east of Kochi City. Tosayamada, Kami City, the main production area, is said to have had more than ten koya (dye houses) at its peak. Today, 三谷染工場 in Tosayamada and 吉川染物店 in Konan City still dye each banner by hand, one at a time. In recent years Furafu have also become popular as flags waved in Yosakoi dancing and as tapestries for indoor display.
Origin
There are various theories about the origins of Furafu. 三谷染工場 in Tosayamada explains that they began in Tosa around the early Edo period as yoko-nobori (horizontal banners). Another account says they came to be made from the mid-Edo period as a wish for the growth of boys. According to 吉川染物店 in Konan City, around the early Meiji era, when double cropping of rice began, they were devised as a form that was easy to handle even during the busy farming season with its unsettled weather, and the custom spread and became a tradition.
History
Flying Furafu is said to be a custom mainly of the coastal areas east of Kochi City. In areas west of Kochi Castle, there is reportedly a custom of flying tall, vertical nobori banners. In the past, it is said, Furafu were flown every year until a child turned seven, and a banquet was held to pray for good health and freedom from illness. Tosayamada had more than ten koya at its peak. 三谷染工場 has been making Furafu for about 120 years, carrying on designs and colors handed down through the generations.
Features
Designs painted on large pieces of cotton cloth include Kintaro embracing a carp, Hachiman Taro Yoshiie setting out for battle, Nasu no Yoichi, and Kato Kiyomasa's tiger hunt. Kintaro embracing a carp is said to express wishes for a strong body and for success in life. At 三谷染工場, sizes are expressed by the number of cloth widths: about 2.2 m × 3 m for two widths, about 3.3 m × 4.5 m for three widths, and about 4.4 m × 6.1 m for four widths.
Techniques
Tsutsugaki (Paste-Resist Drawing)
A dyeing technique in which paste is squeezed out of a tube to draw lines on the cloth, creating areas that the dye cannot penetrate. At 吉川染物店, every step is done by hand based on the tsutsugaki technique, as with the satsuki-nobori (May banners) of other regions, with care put into every stroke of the brush.
Line Drawing and Hand-Painted Dyeing
At 三谷染工場, the outlines of the picture are drawn first, and then the dyeing begins. Painting starts with the face, and each banner is colored by hand, one at a time. Because humidity changes how quickly the dye dries and how the colors come out, experience is said to be needed to judge the finished result.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
まるさん三谷染工場（三谷染物有限会社）
A dye works in Kusume, Tosayamada, Kami City, that has been making Furafu for about 120 years. It carries on many designs, such as Kintaro embracing a carp and Nasu no Yoichi, and also makes nobori banners, mini Furafu and tapestries. It asks visitors to contact it in advance.
Official site →吉川染物店（吉川工房）
A dye shop in Kishimoto, Kagami Town, Konan City, said to have been in business for more than 130 years. The fifth-generation head, 吉川毅, makes Furafu, Tosa-dako (Tosa Kites), nobori banners and noren curtains, and in 2011 he was certified by Kochi Prefecture as a 'Tosa no Takumi' (Master Craftsman of Tosa).
Official site →How to Buy
- Made to Order at 吉川染物店
- According to the official website, a Furafu with a name dyed in is 87,000 yen, mini Furafu start from 35,000 yen, and tapestries from 15,000 yen. All items are made to order after a quote, and completion takes about one to two months. Prices are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
- Mail Order (Serai)
- The mail-order service of the magazine Serai lists a 'Hand-Dyed Mini Furafu' (110 × 160 cm) made by 三谷染工場 at 118,800 yen (tax included). The designs are 'Kintaro Embracing a Carp' and 'Hachiman Taro Yoshiie Setting Out for Battle.' Prices are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
まるさん三谷染工場
高知県香美市土佐山田町楠目1504-8
Experiences reportedly offered include dyeing part of a large Furafu (the work cannot be taken home) and dyeing a tenugui (cotton hand towel) that you can take home. Groups of about 4 to 40 people can book by phone at least one week in advance. Fees are by consultation. Visits to the shop and workshop are also said to be accepted, except from January to May, when the workshop is busy making new pieces.
View details →FAQ
Q. Where does the name 'Furafu' come from?
A. According to 吉川染物店, it is said to be a corruption of the Dutch word for flag. In Dutch, a flag is called 'vlag.' It is also said that Furafu were inspired by tairyo-bata (big-catch flags).
Q. When and how are Furafu displayed?
A. Around Boys' Day, they are flown high in the sky together with koinobori and nobori banners. They are given by parents as a wish for their son's healthy growth, and the family crest or the child's name is often dyed into them. Recently, mini Furafu and tapestries that can be displayed indoors are also being made.