Japan's Traditional Blue: Tokushima's Indigo

On this edition of Journeys in Japan we visit Tokushima, the home of aizome indigo dye. Aizome is made from the indigo plant. The majority of domestic indigo plant production is based in Tokushima Prefecture. The traditional skills for producing indigo dye have been passed down here for generations by master dyers. The indigo dye industry was prosperous, and the arts flourished. The Awa Ningyo Joruri puppet theater, which has been designated as a significant intangible folk cultural asset, is one of them. Our reporter Deborah from Malaysia explores the traditional arts and crafts of Tokushima.