A Beautifully Mended Sakabukuro

early twentieth century
22 1/2" x 9", 57 cm x 23 cm

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are usually made of cotton which has been saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu, which gives the distinctive brown color.  This utilitarian textile was used in sake making.

Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required repeated mending. and we see the wonderfully odd stitches applied for this purpose.  

This wonderful bag is made of pliable, lightweight cotton whose brown color is from the application of green persimmon tannin or kaki shibu as it is called.  The mending stitches are wonderfully artful and are plenty, which is a desirable attribute in such sake filters.  Please know that the original top of this sakabukurowas cut off, so this example is shorter than it was when it was made.

A wonderful example of a sakabukuro.

Recommended.