About Nibutani Attus
Nibutani attus is a bark fiber textile passed down by the Ainu people of Nibutani, Biratori-cho, Hidaka region, Hokkaido, where threads are hand-worked from the inner bark of the elm tree (ohyo nire) and geometric Ainu patterns are woven in. Designated as Japan's northernmost nationally recognized traditional craft embodying the Ainu culture listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, its advanced handcraft techniques using natural materials and unique Ainu patterns are internationally acclaimed. Ainu craft inheritors in Nibutani, Biratori-cho continue to pass down the technique of attus weaving to future generations.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
Materials
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.