About — Chapter One
The History of Golden OBI Art
Japan, once known as the 'Golden Country of Zipangu,' has long woven gold into its currency and its art. The golden obi stands among the most intricate expressions of that tradition.
The Golden Country
Gold, hammered into light
Among the most intricate of Japanese techniques was the hammering of gold into ultra-thin foil. This foil was applied to fine washi paper or silk, then cut into shimmering golden threads — a material of extraordinary delicacy and brilliance.
Woven into luxurious obi, these threads gave form to intricate motifs drawn from nature and to grand historical narratives — among them The Tale of Genji and The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido.
A Vanishing Craft
When the looms fell quiet
As Japan increasingly embraced Western influences, the custom of wearing kimono declined, and with it the demand for the golden obi. In time, the art of crafting these obi all but disappeared.
Today, newly made gold obi are rarely found in kimono shops, and the number of artisans skilled in this specialised craft has drastically decreased. What survives is finite — and all the more precious for it.
Witness a living history
Each SAKAE ART piece carries this history within its weave. Explore the collections, or reach out to learn more about an individual work.