In partnership with NHK World Japan, Japan House London hosts a series of documentary screenings exploring the beauty and diversity of Japanese textiles. In The Lost Textile of Ryukyu leading textile designer Sudō Reiko takes viewers on a journey through Japan’s southern prefecture, Okinawa, as she searches for the secrets of a particularly elusive fabric.

About The Lost Textile of Ryukyu

The Ryūkyū Kingdom (15th to 19th centuries CE) was a kingdom in the tropical island chain to the southwest of mainland Japan. Today, these islands make up Okinawa Prefecture. The kingdom flourished through international trade, especially with China, and developed a distinct culture known for its beautifully dyed and woven textiles. While craftspeople made painstaking efforts to revive some of these traditions after they were lost in World War II, one particularly exquisite type of fabric called ton-byan remains a mystery. Join leading Japanese textile designer Sudō Reiko as she travels around Okinawa, searching for the secrets of this lost craft.

Duration: 49 min

Screening Times:

• 10–11 July 2021: 15:00
• 12–25 July 2021:
  Monday to Saturday: 13:00, 15:00, 18:00*
  Sunday: 13:00, 15:00

(*Please note there is no 18:00 screening on Thursday 22 July 2021)

Booking tickets

Booking is essential to attend a screening. For more details on booking tickets, please visit the Japan House website.

Japan House London is a COVID-secure venue, meaning they continue to operate in line with the UK Government guidance. Please visit their COVID-19 webpage for more information about the measures they have implemented to ensure your safety.