The members of the applicant community, “Alumni,” visited the “Hataorimachi Festival” held in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi.
This program provided an opportunity to experience the culture and craftsmanship of Fujiyoshida, a renowned textile-producing region, and to reconsider the relationship between materials and design through hands-on workshops.

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Location：Hataorimachi Festival, Yamanashi Prefecture FUJISAN FABRICS Co., Ltd.

Fujiyoshida is a town with more than a thousand years of textile history, nurtured by the spring water of Mt. Fuji.
Here, traditional weaving workshops coexist side by side with contemporary factory brands, creating a unique culture that brings out the full potential of materials through weaving, dyeing, and other techniques.
With Akimoto as our guide, participants learned about the history and landscape of Fujiyoshida, as well as the brands featured at the festival.
They gained insights into Fujiyoshida’s role as a leading production area for high-quality textiles, how the Hataorimachi Festival serves as a hub attracting people from across the country, and the trend of manufacturers moving to the area as part of local revitalization efforts.
The tour gave participants a deeper understanding of the region’s knowledge and appeal—insights that cannot be gained simply by strolling through the city.

Participants visited FUJISAN FABRICS Co., Ltd., where they took part in a workshop.
Starting with a plain scarf, each participant arranged various fabrics by hand and completed their own original scarf using a needle-punching technique.
The workshop was very well received, with many participants commenting that it allowed them to apply what they had learned at school and provided new inspiration for their creative work.

“It was a lot of fun to join a workshop where I could learn in detail about local fabrics and the region and create something to take home.”

“I hope to become a designer in the future, so I’m really happy I was able to hear stories about textile-making and learn techniques that will give me ideas for my own designs.”

“I think the needle-felting experience will inspire future creations for everyone. I’d also love to stay connected with other alumni I was able to meet during the event.”