DOCUMENTARY

Part 1 of 10 of the Kubota Kimonos: A History of Silk documentary. In this episode we find out more about Itchiku Kubota and the Itchiku Tsujigahana technique he used to create his famous Kimonos.

The documentary starts off in Siberia at a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the 1950s, where there are insights into Itchiku Kubota's past, his talents as an artist, and where he got his inspiration for his famous Kimono designs. Itchiku Kubota went on to rediscover a forgotten technique for dying kimonos called Tsujigahana, which he developed as his own technique called Itchiku Tsujigahana.

The video also shows some of the Kubota Museum, along with expert opinion. Interviewees in the video include Sakuo Miyahara (Kubota's apprentice, Director of the Itchiku Kubota museum), Celine Fressart (Art historian, expert on Japanese Textiles), Dale Gluckman (Writer, Curator and Asian Textile Specialist) and many others.

In part 2 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about the hardships Itchiku Kubota experienced during his time in a Siberian Prisoner of War Camp.

The start of the video includes insights from Patokh Chodiev (founder of the International Chodiev Foundation) on how he recognised some of the inspiration of the tundra and cold from Russia on some kimonos.

Itchiku Kubota remembered that despite all of the hardships he endured during his life of captivity, he was not cut off from his favourite activities. This included not only drawing but also traditional Japanese theatrical performances.

Interviewees in the video include: Dr Patokh Chodiev (Patron of the Arts, Founder of the International Chodiev Foundation), Sakuo Miyahara (Kubota's apprentice, Director of the Itchiku Kubota Museum), Tomio Nartia (Ex prisoner of war) and Misa Takeoka (Kubota's apprentice).

In part 3 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about how Itchiku Kubota found creativity and beauty from nature.

Despite the burden of his captivity in the Siberian POW camp, Kubota was able to look at the world not as a prisoner, but as an artist to see beauty and patterns in nature which he used as part of his creativity.

It was from his time in Siberia where Kubota also discovered the fantastic power of light. His time spent looking at the sun and sunsets, encapsulated his later works and became the first piece in his Symphony of Light kimono collection.

Interviewees in the video include: Sakuo Miyahara (Apprentice of Itchiku Kubota) and Dale Gluckman (Writer, Curator and Asian Textile Specialist)

In part 4 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about his vision, and the hardships he endured on his return to Japan after years in a POW camp in Siberia.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Celine Fressart (Art historian, expert on Japanese Textiles) and Misa Takeoka (Apprentice of Itchiku Kubota).

In part 5 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about kimono tradition, and Itchiku Kubota's unique techniques and styles.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Yoshiro Mori (Prime Minister of Japan, 2000-2001), Marie-Helene Guelton (Textile Artist and Analyst) and Celine Fressart (Art historian, expert on Japanese Textiles).

In part 6 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about how Kubota broke the traditional rules of kimono, as he evolved the design, styling and concepts around a modern world.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Dale Gluckman (Writer, Curator and Asian Textile Specialist), Viola Raikhel-Bolot (Fine Art Expert) and others.

In part 7 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about the Tsujigahana technique, and Kubota's own interpretation of this, called the Itchiku Tsujigahana technique.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Alan Kennedy(Writer, Expert on Japanese Art), Kioko Simitsu (Fine Art Expert) and others.

In part 8 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about the exhibitions held all around the world showcasing the amazing textile artistry of Itchiku Kubota's unique kimono designs.

The museum also faced serious financial problems, and unfortunately it looked likely that the kimono collections would be split up and sold individually. However the collection was rescued by Patokh Chodiev and the International Chodiev Foundation (ICF).

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Natalya Muradova(Artist), Misa Takeoka (Apprentice of Itchiku Kubota), Edward Shipton (Fine Art Expert) and others.

In part 9 of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we hear how the Kubota museum and collection was saved from being sold by international businessman and philanthropist Patokh Chodiev.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Dr Patokh Chodiev (Patron of the Arts, Founder of the International Chodiev Foundation), Yukio Hatoyama (Prime Minister of Japan, 2009 - 2010) and Yoshiro Mori (Prime Minister of Japan, 2000-2001).

In the final episode of the 10 part documentary of Kubota's Kimonos, we find out more about the master himself, Itchiku Kubota, from some of those that were closest to him.

Further insights into Kubota are provided from interviews with: Misa Takeoka (Apprentice of Itchiku Kubota), Sakuo Miyahara (Apprentice of Itchiku Kubota) and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (Popular TV Presenter).