Suruga Himo

Suruga Himo (駿河組紐) is a braided cord craft produced in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. It belongs to the broader category of Japanese traditional crafts and is among the craft traditions documented by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (一般財団法人 伝統的工芸品産業振興協会), which operates Japanese Traditional Crafts (Other): The Complete Guide resources including Aoyama Square, a traditional crafts showroom in Tokyo.

History

Suruga Himo is produced in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture and is catalogued as part of Japan's traditional craft heritage. The General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries maintains records of Suruga Himo through its Aoyama Square platform, which became multilingual in April 2026. Detailed historical records regarding the founding period and key historical figures associated with Suruga Himo are not available in the current source material.

Techniques & Production Process

Suruga Himo is classified as a braided cord craft. Specific details regarding the materials, tools, and step-by-step production techniques used in its manufacture are not documented in the currently available source material. For craft comparisons, related braided cord traditions include Edo Kumihimo: Braided Silk Cords from Tokyo and Iga Kumihimo: Traditional Braided Cords from Mie, which share the kumihimo braiding tradition practiced across different regions of Japan.

How to Identify Suruga Himo

Suruga Himo is a braided cord craft originating from Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. Specific distinguishing visual or tactile characteristics that differentiate it from other regional braided cord traditions are not detailed in the currently available source material.

The Craft Today

Suruga Himo is listed among the traditional crafts of Japan documented and promoted by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. This foundation operates Aoyama Square, located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (1st floor), open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 except during year-end and New Year holidays. Aoyama Square provides a searchable platform for traditional crafts designated across each prefecture of Japan, organized by region and category. In April 2026, the foundation also launched a website called Japan Traditional Craft Artist Navigation (日本の伝統工芸士ナビ) to further promote craft awareness. Current production statistics, the number of active practitioners, and the scale of the Suruga Himo industry are not available in the current source material. Shizuoka Prefecture is also home to other traditional craft traditions, including Suruga Oshi-e Hagoita: Relief Art Paddle from Shizuoka.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Suruga Himo?

Suruga Himo (駿河組紐) is a traditional braided cord craft produced in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Where can I learn about Suruga Himo in person?

Aoyama Square, operated by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries, is located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (1st floor) and is open from 11:00 to 19:00, year-round except for year-end and New Year holidays. The telephone number is 03-5785-1301.

Who oversees the promotion of Suruga Himo?

The General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (一般財団法人 伝統的工芸品産業振興協会) documents and promotes Suruga Himo alongside other designated traditional crafts of Japan.

How does Suruga Himo relate to other braided cord crafts in Japan?

Suruga Himo is one of several regional braided cord traditions in Japan. Other examples include Edo Kumihimo from Tokyo and Iga Kumihimo from Mie Prefecture, each representing distinct regional variations of the braiding craft.

Is there an online resource for finding traditional crafts by region?

The Aoyama Square website, operated by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries, allows users to search for traditional crafts designated in each prefecture of Japan by region and category. The site became multilingual in April 2026.

Sources

• 伝統工芸青山スクエア