Dye　(p. 99 )

1. Produced in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture.

2. Characteristics: Silk fabrics among which "Hitokoshi Chirimen(crepe)" is regarded as of best quality. "Hitokoshi Chirimen" is a crepe in which both left hand threads and right hand threads are used one after the other as weft. "Hama" is an abbreviation of "Nagahama."

3. Uses: Cloth for dyeing.

4. History: It has been recorded that high quality twill silk fabrics had been woven here around 714 in the Nara Period . Nagahama Chirimen was first woven here by a few men who introduced the technique of crepe in Tango(Kyoto Prefecture) year of Horeki Era(1751-64). Since then, the production increased under the patronage of the feudal government and the amount reached its height in the Ansei Era(1854-60), producing various types of crepes. The Meiji Restoration, which brought the end of the feudal system, declined the production. However, the popularity of crepe and introduction of power driven looms in early Taisho years revived the production. As producer of high quality fabrics for dyeing, Nagahama has been well known as rivaling Tango which produces excellent crepe.