KAWAI FLAG

KAWAI FLAG: Urban Graphics Dyed by Hand 

This dyeing workshop sits just outside central Kyoto.
Opening the sliding door reveals a surprisingly deep space extending far back, its shelves lined with tools worn by years of use. 

The shop was founded more than a century ago and has long shaped the visual landscape of the neighborhood. 

Before digital signage filled the city, places relied on fabric—flags, banners, and noren—to send messages that could be　seen from afar. 

The Japanese term shirushizome roughly translates to “symbol dyeing.”

Shirushi refers to emblems such as family crests, shop names, and logos.

For generations, these symbols have been dyed onto cloth to identify places and guide people through Kyoto. 

Today, bright digital screens deliver information.

Before them, fabric did the job — flags and banners that caught the wind, their movement and the bold, clearly outlined designs of shirushizome drawing the eye. 

Even now, as you walk through Kyoto, you can spot this tradition everywhere—

noren at shop entrances, banners at temples, and emblems marking local businesses.

These pieces carry information, but also the craft and identity of the places they represent. 

At KAWAI FLAG, the work continues much as it always has.
Designs are drawn, screens prepared, dyes mixed, and cloth stretched taut across long wooden frames—each step done by hand. 

Among the craftspeople here is Rihei, who grew up around this dyeing tradition.

For years he focused solely on producing work for clients, but recently he began teaching shirushizome in a small, informal way.

He wanted people to understand the craft not as something distant or decorative, but as a living practice carried out with care. 

For many years, Rihei dyed only the designs his clients brought to him.
He had never made a design of his own.
He loves fish — koi in particular — and keeps them as pets.
So he quietly began creating his own koi motifs and offering interior banners dyed with those designs.

The koi banner will be delivered to your hotel the next day or later — no pickup needed.  

You can dye your koi banner at a relaxed pace, talking with Rihei and learning about his techniques as you go. 

Rihei keeps experimenting, day by day.

He once created an exhibition of Sengoku-era family crests using factory lighting, video, and music.

He preserves tradition while gently pushing it forward — a young president whose approach reveals a thoughtful balance of old and new. 

Tell Yuki your preferred day.
She’ll check the workshop schedule and meet you at the studio, then accompany you inside. 

2-hour workshop tour (with interpreter)
¥2,000 per person

3-hour workshop tour + hands-on experience (with interpreter)
¥30,000 for 1 person
¥27,500 per person for 2 people
¥25,000 per person for 3 people
¥22,500 per person for 4 people

For groups of 5 or more, pricing starts at ¥10,000 per person, with lower rates available for larger groups. 

I grew up in Kyoto, and through my work as a textile artist I’ve become close to many dyeing and weaving artisans.
Their workshops aren’t tourist spots — they’re places where creative work happens every day.
Because they trust me, I’m able to bring guests inside and quietly share the human side of their craft.
It’s a small connection, but it makes the experience very different from a typical tour.