What does 'Benkei-Jima' in the tenugui name mean?
The name of the check pattern in the product description is unfamiliar, making it difficult to gauge what it means. One asks wanting to know the origin of the Japanese proper noun attached to it and the characteristics of the pattern.
It is a traditional lattice pattern named after a famous Japanese warrior, a cotton fabric expressing through hand-dyeing lines that were favored for kimonos during the Edo period.
Benkei-Jima is a name referring to bold lattice—that is, check—patterns in traditional Japanese textiles. It was favored for kimonos worn by men during the Edo period, and because the lines were thick and gave an impression of audacity, it was named after the legendary warrior Benkei[1].
KAMAWANU applies this pattern onto 100% cotton fabric using a traditional hand-dyeing technique called CHUSEN[2][3]. Unlike machine printing, it uses a method where artisans directly pour dye to color horizontal and vertical lines so that they cross each other[4][5]. Because the dye penetrates deep into the fibers, there is almost no difference between the front and back of the fabric, and a subtle shading unique to hand-dyeing remains wherever the two lines overlap.
hmmm, though it bears the name of a heavy warrior, the edges of the lattice are soft rather than sharp thanks to the hand-poured dye.
The specific thread thickness (yarn count) and density of the cotton fabric used for this product have not yet been confirmed in official materials.
Product measurements
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Check Benkei-Jima TENUGUI
Other stated figures
| Part | Value |
|---|---|
| 세로 | 90cm |
| 가로 | 33cm |