Joy in Weaving at Saori Toyosaki
Stepping through the sliding door at Saori Toyosaki transports you into a wonderland of colourful warps and weaves, igniting a passion for hand-weaving you never knew you had. Nestled in Osaka’s arty Nakazaki neighbourhood, which boasts numerous Taisho era buildings, the weaving studio is housed in a charming 100-year-old residence carefully updated to preserve its original interior. The space's brightness and warmth are matched by the warm welcome you receive.
The studio hosts around twenty visitors daily across three sessions, inviting tourists, families, friends, individuals, experienced weavers, and newcomers alike to experience the joy of Saori weaving. Space is at a premium in this historic building, yet it is efficiently organised. Saori looms are quickly set up, and guests soon find themselves selecting their warps and wefts. With a few clicks, clunks, and knots, the chosen warps are in position, ready for weaving.
I had the privilege of spending five days at Saori Toyosaki, thanks to support from the Daiwa Foundation, which strengthens UK-Japan relations. Besides honing my handweaving skills, I was eager to learn about the studio's broader operations, especially as most workshop facilitators are learning disabled, working alongside one or two non-disabled staff. With nearly twenty years of experience in UK social care, I am particularly interested in how weaving can create employment opportunities for learning disabled people. Despite many wanting to work, only 5.1% of learning disabled individuals in the UK are in paid employment, according to Mencap.
Most facilitators at Saori Toyosaki have long histories of handweaving, with some practicing the craft for around three decades. One facilitator learned weaving in school and continued at Saori Hands, the studio’s parent company, which is a larger facility accommodating up to thirty learning disabled weavers at a time, focusing on creativity, pleasure, and relaxation.
Saori Hands also welcomes individuals facing other life challenges. For example, someone recovering from alcohol use disorder finds Saori weaving therapeutic, helping to channel positive thoughts and reduce medication dependence. He skilfully created a stunning 10-meter piece over six months.
Members at Saori Hands also gain pattern-cutting and sewing skills, and the studio regularly hosts well-attended fashion shows. Facilitators at Saori Toyosaki wear these colourful, handcrafted garments, embodying the weaving ethos. When not teaching, they prepare warps, thread looms, and create giveaway bracelets or intricately woven novelty animal charms. One facilitator, in particular, excels at creating woven cats, rabbits, and penguins using "treasure yarn" – scrap fibers left over from the weaving process. Her deft work produces charming pieces, like a smiling cat with a bow tie, in just ten minutes.
When asked what she loves most about being a weaving facilitator, she replied, "I’m excited about teaching the young children in the kindergarten. That’s my favourite part." Saori Toyosaki takes weaving workshops into the community, engaging people in kindergartens, shopping centers, parks, and more.
The studio follows Japan’s 'Type B' employment model, offering a basic wage to avoid hierarchy and ensure a stress-free environment. This model supports collaboration among people with various learning disabilities, such as Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, and Autistic Spectrum Conditions, allowing them to contribute positively.
Seeing learning disabled facilitators in authoritative roles is transformative. In an ableist society, this demographic is often seen as passive recipients of support rather than active contributors. At Saori Toyosaki, this dynamic is reversed, with participants of all ages learning from and feeling inspired by these skilled craftspeople.
The studio exudes creative joy, embodying the Saori ethos of "me o kagayaka sete oru" – weaving with a sparkle in one’s eye. As one facilitator expressed, "I like weaving because I can make choices for myself. It’s a time where nobody can disturb me, and I can concentrate and focus."
At Saori Toyosaki, time glides by without a rush. You’ll be gently guided but free to follow your senses along a unique path of colour, texture, and pattern. You’ll leave with your spirits more enriched than when you arrived.
Text and images by Jade Ogden of The Handloom Room
The studio hosts around twenty visitors daily across three sessions, inviting tourists, families, friends, individuals, experienced weavers, and newcomers alike to experience the joy of Saori weaving. Space is at a premium in this historic building, yet it is efficiently organised. Saori looms are quickly set up, and guests soon find themselves selecting their warps and wefts. With a few clicks, clunks, and knots, the chosen warps are in position, ready for weaving.
I had the privilege of spending five days at Saori Toyosaki, thanks to support from the Daiwa Foundation, which strengthens UK-Japan relations. Besides honing my handweaving skills, I was eager to learn about the studio's broader operations, especially as most workshop facilitators are learning disabled, working alongside one or two non-disabled staff. With nearly twenty years of experience in UK social care, I am particularly interested in how weaving can create employment opportunities for learning disabled people. Despite many wanting to work, only 5.1% of learning disabled individuals in the UK are in paid employment, according to Mencap.
Most facilitators at Saori Toyosaki have long histories of handweaving, with some practicing the craft for around three decades. One facilitator learned weaving in school and continued at Saori Hands, the studio’s parent company, which is a larger facility accommodating up to thirty learning disabled weavers at a time, focusing on creativity, pleasure, and relaxation.
Saori Hands also welcomes individuals facing other life challenges. For example, someone recovering from alcohol use disorder finds Saori weaving therapeutic, helping to channel positive thoughts and reduce medication dependence. He skilfully created a stunning 10-meter piece over six months.
Members at Saori Hands also gain pattern-cutting and sewing skills, and the studio regularly hosts well-attended fashion shows. Facilitators at Saori Toyosaki wear these colourful, handcrafted garments, embodying the weaving ethos. When not teaching, they prepare warps, thread looms, and create giveaway bracelets or intricately woven novelty animal charms. One facilitator, in particular, excels at creating woven cats, rabbits, and penguins using "treasure yarn" – scrap fibers left over from the weaving process. Her deft work produces charming pieces, like a smiling cat with a bow tie, in just ten minutes.
When asked what she loves most about being a weaving facilitator, she replied, "I’m excited about teaching the young children in the kindergarten. That’s my favourite part." Saori Toyosaki takes weaving workshops into the community, engaging people in kindergartens, shopping centers, parks, and more.
The studio follows Japan’s 'Type B' employment model, offering a basic wage to avoid hierarchy and ensure a stress-free environment. This model supports collaboration among people with various learning disabilities, such as Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, and Autistic Spectrum Conditions, allowing them to contribute positively.
Seeing learning disabled facilitators in authoritative roles is transformative. In an ableist society, this demographic is often seen as passive recipients of support rather than active contributors. At Saori Toyosaki, this dynamic is reversed, with participants of all ages learning from and feeling inspired by these skilled craftspeople.
The studio exudes creative joy, embodying the Saori ethos of "me o kagayaka sete oru" – weaving with a sparkle in one’s eye. As one facilitator expressed, "I like weaving because I can make choices for myself. It’s a time where nobody can disturb me, and I can concentrate and focus."
At Saori Toyosaki, time glides by without a rush. You’ll be gently guided but free to follow your senses along a unique path of colour, texture, and pattern. You’ll leave with your spirits more enriched than when you arrived.
Text and images by Jade Ogden of The Handloom Room