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Tokyo Some Monogatari Museum (Tomita dyer art) Shinjuku mini-museum

Together with the development of the Tokugawa shogunate, people started wearing kimono made with komon- and sarasa-dyeing techniques, which gave rise to many dyeing manufacturers. They settled in areas with abundant high-quality water, such as Kanda and Asakusa; however, as the water pollution got worse after the Meiji period (1868-1912), they moved upstream along the Kanda River seeking water suitable for dyeing, from Edogawabashi to Ochiai. Since then, the area along the Kanda River has been home to many dyeing manufacturers and industry-related business operators, leading to the development of the dyeing industry in Shinjuku. Currently, the dyeing industry continues to preserve the traditional techniques as one of the few local industries in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku mini-museum "Tokyo Some Monogatari Museum"

Tokyo Some Monogatari Museum preserves and passes down these dyeing techniques and dyeing works and introduces activities at dyeing factories with a modern, stylish sense. In such ways, efforts are being made to pass down the precious traditional crafts to future generations.