Sankatsu
Founded in 1894 (Meiji 27), Sankatsu has been producing yukata continuously from the Meiji era to the present day.
Its home, Ningyocho, is one of the few areas that escaped damage from both the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II, and as a result, more than 20,000 antique stencil patterns remain preserved there.
The main dyeing technique used for Sankatsu’s yukata is chusen, a traditional Japanese method in which the fabric is folded back and forth rather than dyed piece by piece. A stencil is placed, rice paste is applied for resist dyeing, and dye is poured through a special kettle-like tool. At Sankatsu, up to six different dyes are combined to create delicate gradations of color, dyeing both sides of the fabric evenly.
Another technique associated with the brand is nagaita chugata, a style mastered by Sankatsu’s dedicated craftsman Kotaro Shimizu. This meticulous process involves using finely patterned stencils that cover both the front and back of a single bolt of fabric, applying paste precisely, and dyeing both sides to achieve an exquisitely refined finish—a true testament to the artisan’s skill.
“A yukata should evoke a sense of coolness even for those who see it.
The key lies in how beautifully one can express the white spaces of the fabric,”
says Hanshichi Amano, the fourth-generation successor, who carries in his heart the words of the masters who came before him. He continues to explore new possibilities for the yukata—transforming traditional fabrics into contemporary styles and even creating interior goods that reinterpret yukata materials for modern life.
Sankatsu’s mainstay chusen-dyed yukata are primarily produced at a long-established dyeing workshop in Edogawa, Tokyo, which has been in operation for over 105 years. Among the traditional Japanese chusen workshops, this one is especially valuable—it employs skilled artisans capable of handling the most intricate techniques, including multicolor dyeing and Hosokawa-zome, which requires using multiple stencils and successive dyeing processes.
Edo Tokyo Kirari brand page
https://en.edotokyokirari.jp/brands/fashion/sankatsu/
Sankatsu home page