In Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture, where indigo production has been active for a long time, the making of indigo dye called "Sukumo" has begun.

"Sukumo" is an indigo dye made by fermenting dried indigo leaves for about 100 days.



At the Sato Awa Ai Factory in Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture, nine craftsmen gathered to perform a work called "sleeping" to promote fermentation by sprinkling water on dried indigo leaves.



Craftsmen pour groundwater on the indigo leaves piled up to a height of about 1 meter with a large cassotte.



After stirring with a large rake so that the water and oxygen that promote fermentation are evenly distributed, the leaves are piled up again to a height of about 1 meter.



Similar work is repeated about 20 times at a pace of once every 5 days, and in early December, "Sukumo" is completed and then shipped to various places.



This year, the harvest was done avoiding the rainy season, so we were able to harvest good quality indigo leaves.



Mr. Yoshiaki Sato, a craftsman, said, "I want to be careful not to get sick. I want to make a dye that is easy to use and dyes well."