Tenugui Textiles by Keiko Hayashi & Sachiyo Nakamura
When
Shop In-person: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Workshop: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Where
Price
Workshop: $50.00 (+ $5.00 fee)
This workshop is 10+.
Includes a tenugui & sewing materials for an azumabukuro bag.
Item prices will range from $18.00 to $100.00+.
About
Discover the delicate artistry of tenugui, traditional Japanese hand towels, with master designers Keiko Hayashi and Sachiyo Nakamura. Renowned in Tokyo for 14 years of highly acclaimed pop-ups, Hayashi and Nakamura bring their first overseas exhibition to JACCC with the theme “The Heavens.” Their tenugui designs, hand-dyed with centuries-old techniques, transform everyday textiles into wearable art, from bags and apparel to accessories, each imbued with cultural significance and exquisite craftsmanship.
Browse an exclusive selection of their tenugui and products, all available for purchase at MISE 店, and gain insight into the traditional dyeing methods and motifs that make these pieces truly special.
Enhance your experience by joining one of the limited-seat workshops, held each morning of the pop-up at the Kosaka Center for Art & Crafts. Attendees will hand-sew a tenugui into a practical, stylish azumabukuro origami-style bag while learning from Hayashi and Nakamura themselves. All materials are provided, and participants leave with a one-of-a-kind creation, a rare opportunity to engage with an authentic Japanese craft firsthand.
Spaces are extremely limited for the workshops. Reserve your spot today and immerse yourself in the vibrant tradition and artistry of tenugui!
Things To Know
Keiko Hayashi - Ladybug Artist, Tenugui Designer
Born in Sendai and now based in Tokyo, Keiko Hayashi (R) was captivated as a child by the mysterious metamorphosis of a ladybug. Since 2015, she has explored this fascination through her works under the theme “Ladybugs That Bring Happiness,” expressing it via illustrations, specimens, and tenugui (traditional Japanese hand towels).
Her tenugui designs are particularly distinctive, blending traditional Japanese auspicious “kissing patterns” (吉祥文様, kisshō monyō) with ladybugs to create the “Ladybug Auspicious Patterns” (Tendōmushi Kisshō Monyō). Each year, these designs are brought to life using chūsen, a traditional Japanese dyeing technique, and are exhibited and sold as part of her annual collection.
Sachiyo Nakamura - Graphic Designer / Chūsen Tenugui Pattern Artist
Born in 1971 and based in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Sachiyo Nakamura (L) is inspired by the timeless tradition of using symbolic patterns to wish happiness for oneself and others. Deeply moved by these auspicious motifs (kisshō monyō), she imbues every tenugui design with heartfelt wishes.
Her lifelong goal is to create 108 unique patterns, having completed 50 as of July 2025. Drawn to the beauty of traditional crafts, designing tenugui has become her life’s work, with several new designs released each year.
Accessibility
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact mise@jaccc.org.
Plan Your Visit
JACCC is a 7-minute walk from the L.A. Metro Rail's Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, which connects to both the A and E lines via the Regional Connector.
For additional transportation options and parking details, check out Go Little Tokyo's Guide to the area here.