Feb 4, 2013 - 1 min read

Chikeiken's Hidden Treasures

Hatori weaving on cold winter days in a "fruit village"

By Alena Eckelmann

Community writer

A glimpse into Mrs. Chonan's weaving studio

Recently completed scrolls and other pieces of art

Mrs. Chonan is a weaver, a restaurant proprietress and a farmer

Showing the different colors and patterns of her hatori weaving

Outside Chikeiken on a cold day in February

The name "Chikeiken" is just about visible while the roof and one side of the house are completely covered in snow

Entrance to Chikeiken and to Mrs. Chonan's weaving studio

No car can pass here in winter; walking to Chikeiken

Mrs. Chonan is the owner of Chikeiken farmers' restaurant but what is not apparent at first sight: she is also a very skilled hatori weaver and her works are pieces of art. Sometimes she invites guests at the restaurant to the backroom where she is doing the weaving. Just look at her wand scrolls. The Buddha in one of the scrolls looks so real; the longer you look, the more you feel like the deity is going to come alive any moment. Mrs. Chonan is weaving about 1 cm per day and it takes her about six months to complete one scroll. She produces the raw materials for the threads herself together with a group of locals who grow silk worms. The Chonan's are farmers in a so-called "fruit village" at the foot of the Dewa Sanzan mountains. Fruit trees and farm land dominate the landscape during the warm seasons but in winter masses of snow coat this village in a white, icy cloak. This is the ideal season for Mrs. Chonan to concentrate on her craft.