Revitalizing Meisen Kimono in Chichibu through Storytelling—Craft, Community, and Sense-Making

Abstract

Japan’s kimono has seen a gradual revitalization since the 2000s. Especially the renewed interest in antique and meisen kimono has been of major importance. Responding to this, meisen creators in Chichibu have actively started processes of meisen’s reevaluation and re-interpretation through storytelling. Research focusing on the activities and storytelling by Chichibu’s weavers and craftspeople in revitalizing meisen has remained limited, and therefore this research focuses on a case study of weaving studio Arakei Orimono, together with other key players who helped develop and sustain the popularity of meisen in the area. This paper takes up a content and narrative analysis conducted from the framework of storytelling and meaning-making, making use of material gathered through observations, newspapers, magazine articles, testimonials, websites, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and interviews. The interviews in this research were conducted using an oral history approach. This paper argues that the usage of stories to analyze processes of making has led the meisen craftspeople in Chichibu to develop new insights into how to understand and redefine their craft in new ways, allowing them to reflect on their making processes and the meaning of their activities, contributing to the further revitalization of meisen.