There are also many practical items with modern designs. Okayama's "rush products"

Okayama, the land of sunshine, is blessed with abundant water and is the perfect place to make rush products.

Rush is a type of wildflower that has been distributed all over Japan since ancient times. Its cultivation became popular in present-day Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town when vast areas of reclaimed land were developed during the Edo period and cultivation of cotton and rushes, which were resistant to salt damage, was encouraged.

When rushes are processed into tatami mats, mats, etc., they are treated with mud dyeing to eliminate uneven coloration, increase shine, suppress deterioration, and make them durable. In the days when there were no dryers, mud-dyed rushes were dried in the sun, and in this region with little rain, the cultivation of rushes and the commercialization of rushes developed.

During the Meiji period, rush products from Kurashiki were Japan's leading export product.

``Sato people presented Empress Jingu on the ship with a rug woven from wildflowers.'' The folklore that remains at Futago Shrine in Matsushima, Kurashiki City suggests that rugs have been made in this area since the time of the gods. In books from the Edo period, the area around Kurashiki in Bitchu China (currently Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town) was described as a rush production area, and in the Meiji period, rush product production in Okayama rapidly developed.

The driving force behind this development was Minki Isozaki, a Kurashiki-born man who improved looms and developed dyeing techniques. His invention of ``Kinkanen,'' a flower mulberry woven with beautiful and intricate patterns, was recognized around the world, and Okayama's flower mulberry became an important export item for Japan. And so I grew up.

From traditional items to modern items. Rush products that fit into modern life

Many of the companies that handle rush products in Okayama are concentrated in the southern part of the prefecture, centered on Hayashima and Kurashiki. Although the quantity has decreased in recent years, the high level of processing technology is famous throughout the country. The carefully woven rush products of Okayama continue to pass on traditional techniques.

Okayama's rush products are supported by a continuous history and reliable technology. In recent years, in addition to the traditional flower pots, many practical items that blend into modern life have been made, such as coasters, slippers, table centerpieces, placemats, and computer-related goods. Rushes also help with their characteristic humidity-regulating properties, making our lives more comfortable. Its refreshing scent and modern design will add comfort and color to your life.