From Grass to Yarn—Hand Joining Ramie Fiber

Would you like to splice ramie fiber? I'm beginning a thread-making workshop.

One of the biggest reasons I became involved with ramie was that I was utterly captivated by the practice of umu (hand-splicing fibers).

"Umu" is a Japanese word that is hardly ever used in modern daily life in Japan.

Yet until not so long ago, it was a very familiar part of Japanese everyday existence, deeply rooted in our routines.

Before cotton became widespread in 16th century, ordinary Japanese clothing was made from fibers harvested from the bark of grass and trees.

These stiff, resilient, and stubborn fibers (known as bast fibers) could not be spun like cotton; they had to be split and joined together by hand, one by one.

This is the process called "umu".

In mountainous and island regions where cotton could not grow, this hand-splicing culture survived until very recently and is still quietly carried on today.

Isn’t that fascinating?

Hand-splicing takes even more time and effort than spinning.

In a world where threads can be produced in an instant by machines, and anything can be bought at the click of a button,

continuing to hand-splice yarn gives you a kind of strange feeling.

While everyone around you is spinning at high speed, you feel as though you have quietly turned into a snail, sitting all by yourself.

But perhaps this was simply the speed at which people lived in the old days.

You had to grow, forage and harvest your own materials, and give your time and patience—otherwise, you couldn’t even get a single thread.

And that very speed was a sustainable way of life, attuned to the earth’s capacity for self-recovery.

---Perhaps to our own human capacity for recovery, as well.

Nature brings blessings to humankind, and the lives of plants and animals sustain us.

Humans, receiving those lives, are also lives.

There are times when things do not go as we wish, resting on a miraculous and fragile balance; yet there is also a steadfast strength that always tries to heal and recover.

To touch the fibers of the ramie plant and feel the life that once lived within them, right at your fingertips.

To finely sense their shape and texture, and feel your own body moving in harmony with them.

Listening closely, deeper and deeper, into the stillness.

Step away for a brief moment from the noisy storm of a daily life overflowing with things and information,

and spend some time imagining human activities passed down from the ancient past.

Won't you come and experience this quiet time of calm? [Workshop Details] Hand-Joining Ramie Fiber into Yarn

Make a tegarami: Bundle the ramie fibers into an easy-to-work-with shape. Split: Split the fibers to match the desired thickness of the thread.

Hand-Join (Umu): Splice the split fibers end to end, twisting and connecting them one by one.

Spin (Apply Twist): Use a spindle to add a twist to the joined thread, increasing its strength and usability.

What is Ramie?: https://www.umitomk.com/material/ramie 

What is Umu?: https://www.umitomk.com/umukoto

＝＝＝＝＝＝  From Grass to Yarn — Hand-Joining Ramie Fiber

⚫︎ Dates: upon your request

⚫︎ Location: Kamakura or Hayama, Kanagawa, JAPAN

⚫︎ Duration: 4h (includes tea break)

⚫︎ Content: Hand-joining ramie fiber into yarn Create thread from about 1.2g of fiber. You will experience the full series of processes: splitting, hand-splicing, and twisting. You can take your finished yarn home with you.

Tea and sweets included.

⚫︎ Fee: ¥15,000 / person 

⚫︎ Capacity: Up to 3 participants

⚫︎ What to bring / Attire: Reading glasses, if needed. ⚫︎ Cancellation Policy: 2 days to 1 day before: 50%, On the day: 100%

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[Notice! Please Read Before Booking]

・Please ensure your earliest preferred date is at least 3 days after your application date.

・The venue details will be provided after booking (held in rental spaces in Kamakura/Hayama, easily accessible by public transit).

・This workshop will be held with as few as 1 participant.

・We will take a tea break. Please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or cannot consume certain beverages.

・I plan to take photos and videos during the workshop. These may be used for activity records, future announcements, SNS, website, flyers, etc.

・The methods taught are based on traditional techniques I learned in Showa Village, Fukushima Prefecture, JP, combined with elements from other regions and eras.

・If you need to cancel, no cancellation fee will be charged if you can introduce someone else to take your place. About Umito:

Gazing into the origins, the depths, and seeking what lies beyond.

Searching for my own roots led me to cultural anthropology, where I discovered the world of bast fibers. Captivated by their quiet power, I relocated to Showa Village in Fukushima, a region deeply connected with ramie. Surrounded by snowy mountains, I immersed myself in the entire process—from growing the plants to weaving the yarn.

Currently working in Kamakura, I engage in hand-joining karamushi yarn, creating fiber accessories, and leading workshops.