In 2011 I met Homare Yamashita, a master silk weaver and dyer. The opportunity arose to visit his studio in Japan where I spent 3 months apprenticed to this craft. My time was engaged by weaving silk obi on a primitive back-strap, only 10-25 cm could be woven each day, the labour intensive method of production makes economic viability challenging; the future practise of this method is fragile.

Silk is dyed at the studio with pigments derived from plants on the island, a species of grass produces yellow, camellia bark produces browns and pinks, and black from iron rich mud.