Episode 2: Keitokuya family

Kuni* was a member of the Association for the Preservation of Kijoka Banana Fiber Cloth (Kijoka-no-Bashofu).

Since childhood, she had helped with U-mi (the process of splitting and tying banana plant fibers to make thread). However, at the time, she only did it as a chore for children—more like helping out. She and the others would strip and tie the fibers while chatting, treating it almost like a game.
Although she later left Kijoka due to marriage and the war, she returned to her hometown afterward. Since her mother was involved in making bashofu, she also began to dedicate herself to the craft in earnest.

She owned her own itobasho (fiber banana) field and mastered every step of the process, from U-daki (boiling the fibers) to U-biki (scraping and extracting the fibers).
As she grew older and could no longer handle field work or the heavy labor of U-daki, she continued to contribute to Kijoka’s bashofu for many years by focusing on U-umi (thread-making), a task that can be done even at an advanced age.
Eventually, after passing the age of 100, even U-umi became too difficult for her. Nevertheless, she continued to wind onto bobbins (kudamaki) the thread that her daughter had spun.

Her daughter (now in her late 70s), who grew up watching her mother work, was also involved in U-umi. Currently, she is no longer practicing the craft due to a traffic accident.
Having witnessed her mother’s (and family’s) dedication, the daughter also spent over 10 years doing U-umi. Even though she is unable to do it now, seeing her mother find her life’s purpose in this craft deeply moved her daughter’s heart.
This was because her mother truly found purpose and joy in her daily work.
She passed away at the age of 103 or 104.

* name has been changed to protect her privacy