【Feature Exhibition 4】Electric Weaving Machine Products -Technical Innovation of Hakata Ori Textile-

Jan. 28, 2020 (Tue) ~ Apr. 12, 2020 (Sun)

At the beginning of the Showa era, an evolutionally weaving machine was produced in Fukuoka, a town famous for Hakata Ori textile. The machine was called “The electric weaving machine” and was invented by a Hakata Ori textile maker, Nakanishi Kinsaku. This machine could weave not only patterns or images of calligraphies but also images in photos instantly and accurately.
To get the desired weaving result, the user of the machine applies a sheet of an original image around a cylindrical part of the machine, and the part will rotate while gathering the light. The machine thus detects the contrast within the original image, and it sends the data in a form of electric power through the phototube. By using the power, the machine selects and moves needles automatically. Thus, the weaving result will be close to the original image. The machine made it possible to reproduce images of a portrait, scenery, and a masterpiece of a painting.
Kinsaku, the inventor of this machine was awarded several prestigious prizes in Japan, such as the Imperial Invention prize in 1932 and the Asahi Prize in 1971. Kinsaku was even awarded Oju Hosho (Medal with a Yellow Ribbon for industriousness) in 1971.
This exhibition introduces textiles produced using the electronic weaving method and the related articles. This is the first exhibition which themed this weaving method held in Fukuoka! Please don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the finely detailed Denki Monori (electric weaving) textile!

exhibition leaflet