Kaga Embroidery Other Fiber Crafts Ishikawa Prefecture Cooperative Union Ishikawa Prefecture Kaga Embroidery Association 1-130 Toriki, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture tel 0762-91-5150 Background Closely linked with the spread of Buddhism in the area, embroidery was introduced to the province of Kaga from Kyoto in the Muromachi period (1392-1573) and was used for the decoration of such religious trappings as altar cloths and surplice worn by monks. During the Edo period (1600-1868), embroidery came to be used to decorate many personal items and such things as an over garment called a jinbaori, which was worn by military leaders when they went into battle. The kimono worn by noble ladies, too, were also sometimes embroidered, the dignified elegance of such garments pleasing them greatly. With the attentive patronage of successive generations of Kaga clan leaders who prized and gave their encouragement to culture and learning, Kaga embroidery developed individual characteristics and a degree of perfection to match Kaga gold leaf and Kaga yuzen dyeing. The attractiveness of the motifs and patterns that are so carefully embroidered using a full palette of colored silks as well as both gold and silver threads is, without a doubt, one of the special features of Kaga embroidery. Its glowing, heart warming beauty embodies the courtly nature of this wealthy province and the sincerity and sense of pride of its people fostered by the severe natural conditions in this area of the archipelago. As in the past, embroidery is still used to decorate top quality garments including the kimono as well as obi and fukusa, a tea caddy wrap used during the tea ceremony. Embroidered panels for screens are also made along with a number of other decorative items. There are now 19 government recognized Master Craftsmen among the 100 people employed by the 5 firms engaged in this craft of such intricate beauty.