textilesAugust 01, 2026

Noto Jofu

Noto Jofu is a linen textile (asa-orimon) produced on the Noto Peninsula in Nakanoto, Ishikawa Prefecture. The craft was designated as an Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property on May 27, 1960, with the Noto Jofu Preservation Society (能登上布保存会) as the designated subject. The textile was historically known as "Noto Chijimi" (能登縮) or "Abuya Chijimi" (阿部屋縮) before the name Noto Jofu was officially established around 1904.

History

The origins of textile production in the Noto region are traced in local tradition to Princess Nunakiriiribime no Mikoto, daughter of Emperor Sujin, who is said to have taught weaving using hemp thread during a stay in Noto. Noto Hime Shrine in Nakanotomachi Notobe is dedicated to her memory. Documentary evidence places hemp production in Noto Province during the Heian period, when hemp (asa) was recorded as a tax good (cho and yo). By the Kamakura period, records indicate that hemp thread from the region was delivered to Todaiji Temple in Nara.

During the Genroku era (1688–1703), hemp thread produced in Nakanoto was used as raw yarn for Omi Jofu, the established ramie textile of Omi Province. The transfer of expertise occurred in the reverse direction between Bunka 11 (1814) and approximately Bunka 15 (1818), when craftsmen were invited from Omi Province to Noto to teach dyeing and weaving techniques, substantially improving local weaving skills. In Bunsei 1 (1818), Noto Chijimi began to be manufactured and shipped to Osaka and other markets. After the Ansei era (1855–1860), production expanded under a putting-out system (tonya-sei katei kogyo) centered on Notobe and under the protection of the Kaga Domain.

Around 1877, the Noto Seifu Company (能登整布会社) was established. In 1895, Noto Jofu was exhibited at the 4th National Industrial Exhibition and received a third-place prize. The name "Noto Jofu" was officially established around 1904. In 1907, the textile was presented to Crown Prince Yoshihito, later Emperor Taisho. In 1914, the Noto Hemp Textile Industry Association (能登麻織物同業組合) was established. From around the late Taisho period, ramie (苧麻) came to be used in place of hemp. Around 1928, more than 120 weaving establishments (oriya) were producing Noto Jofu, and at its peak annual production reached approximately 400,000 tan, the highest production volume of linen textiles in Japan during the early Showa period. Sea bleaching (umi sarashi) was practiced until 1940, turning the coastline near the production area white.

By 1982, the number of active Noto Jofu weaving establishments had declined to only Yamazaki Asa Orimono Kobo. In 1988, the Noto Hemp Textile Cooperative (能登麻織物協同組合) was dissolved. In 1981, a museum called "Noto Jofu no Sato" was established at Ishikawa Prefectural Rokkunishi High School, where craftspeople teach students weaving. In 1996, the Noto Jofu Hall (能登上布会館) opened as a heritage transmission facility in Kashima-gun Rokkunishi Town. In 2005, Noto Jofu was selected as one of "Ishikawa's Crafts: 100 Selections" (いしかわの工芸・百選) by Ishikawa Prefecture.

Techniques & Production Process

Noto Jofu is classified as an asa-orimon, a woven textile using plant-based bast fibers. From around the late Taisho period, ramie (苧麻) replaced hemp as the primary fiber. Historically, the production process included sea bleaching (umi sarashi), a technique practiced until 1940 in which woven cloth was laid along the coastline to whiten in the sun and sea air, reportedly rendering the shoreline entirely white. The production system from the Ansei era onward was organized as a putting-out system (tonya-sei katei kogyo) centered on Notobe. Dyeing and weaving techniques were substantially developed following the invitation of Omi Province craftsmen between 1814 and approximately 1818. Noto Jofu is also related to the tradition of Ojiya-chijimi and other fine ramie textiles of Japan, sharing the use of ramie fiber and fine weave structures characteristic of high-quality jofu cloth. For broader context on Japanese woven textiles, see Japanese Woven Textiles: The Complete Guide.

How to Identify Noto Jofu

Noto Jofu is a ramie-based woven textile. From around the late Taisho period, ramie (苧麻) became the standard fiber, distinguishing later production from earlier hemp-based cloth. The textile was historically produced in sufficient quantity to rank as the highest-volume linen textile in Japan during the early Showa period, suggesting a well-defined regional character. Comparable fine ramie textiles include Echigo Jofu from Niigata and Miyako Jofu from Okinawa, as well as Yaeyama Jofu. Specific visual or tactile identification criteria beyond fiber type and regional origin are not detailed in currently available sources.

The Craft Today

By 1982, active production had contracted to a single establishment, Yamazaki Asa Orimono Kobo, and the Noto Hemp Textile Cooperative was dissolved in 1988. Preservation efforts have been institutionalized through several channels: the Noto Jofu Preservation Society holds the Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property designation awarded in 1960; the museum "Noto Jofu no Sato" at Ishikawa Prefectural Rokkunishi High School, established in 1981, involves craftspeople in teaching students; and the Noto Jofu Hall, opened in 1996 in Kashima-gun Rokkunishi Town, functions as a heritage transmission facility. In 2005, the craft was recognized among "Ishikawa's Crafts: 100 Selections" by Ishikawa Prefecture. Noto Jofu shares its home prefecture with another designated textile, Ushikubi-tsumugi, a wild silk weaving tradition also from Ishikawa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Noto Jofu" mean and what was it previously called?

The name "Noto Jofu" was officially established around 1904. Before that, the textile was known as "Noto Chijimi" (能登縮) or "Abuya Chijimi" (阿部屋縮). "Jofu" refers to a high-quality grade of woven cloth, while "Noto" denotes the Noto Peninsula region of Ishikawa Prefecture.

What fiber is used to make Noto Jofu?

Historically, Noto Jofu was made using hemp (asa). From around the late Taisho period, ramie (苧麻) came to replace hemp as the primary fiber used in production.

How significant was Noto Jofu production at its peak?

At its peak, annual production of Noto Jofu reached approximately 400,000 tan. During the early Showa period, it had the highest production volume of linen textiles in Japan. Around 1928, more than 120 weaving establishments were active in the region.

What is the Noto Jofu Preservation Society?

The Noto Jofu Preservation Society (能登上布保存会) is the organization designated as the holder of the Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property, a status awarded to Noto Jofu on May 27, 1960.

What heritage facilities exist for Noto Jofu today?

Two principal facilities are associated with the preservation of Noto Jofu: "Noto Jofu no Sato," a museum established in 1981 at Ishikawa Prefectural Rokkunishi High School where craftspeople teach weaving to students, and the Noto Jofu Hall (能登上布会館), which opened in 1996 in Kashima-gun Rokkunishi Town as a heritage transmission facility.