Bingata （紅型）

Japanese textile-dyeing stencils themselves are works of art and are collected. Their making and cutting is an independent craft, and stencil cutters have been designated “Living National Treasures” by the government. Simply, three sheets of the finest grade of handmade mulberry paper are coated and glued together with persimmon tannin, smoked for durability, aged, and then the designs are cut. Even the cutting tools are wonders of craftsmanship, and watching the cutting is like experiencing a form of music.