Close Call
By John Marshall (taken from the NHK video series on Indigo,
1992)
Indigo production has gone through a number of crises in its long history.
Most recently was during WWII in Japan. With the war effort in full swing, harsh restrictions were placed on all energy expended in non-war related activities. Since food production was given maximum preference, farmers were required to cease production of all non food-oriented crops. This included indigo.
The Satoh household, which had been producing indigo for generations in Tokushima, was required to comply and dutifully dug up all their fields, at least as far as the officials could determine.
Japanese indigo, tadeai, is an annual. Since it does not reseed
on its own, if the cycle is ever entirely broken, you run the
risk of loosing the species. Heisuke Satoh took his seeds and
went far into the mountains to plant his crop, hidden from the
public eye - just enough plants to keep the seed stock fresh and
viable. It was a terrible time for the Satoh family.
Trusted friends and family would cover for his absence, all the
while fearing detection.
Heisuke had early on decided that indigo production was to be his life's blood, and that no matter what the cost, he must do all in his power to save the plant and the traditions for future generations. This sounds like a heroic tale in terms of today, but at the time he would have been branded a traitor with dire consequences.
However, once the war ended, the Satoh family was able to bring the indigo quickly back into production, whereas most other natural dyers required years to bring their plants back to the point of being able to harvest them.
Heisuke had a grandson, Akihito, who is now one of the leading natural indigo producers in Japan. Tune in next issue for more about the Satoh family and Japanese indigo production.
Heisuke Satoh, November 1, 1885 - January 24, 1976
Akihito's father became very ill while Akihito was still very young and was sent to his grandfather's care.
Heisuke was Akihito's master, and Akihito his apprentice, until about the time Akihito turned thirty-seven. It was truly a difficult time in his life. Akihito began his apprenticeship at about the time he entered into second or third grade. He was with him morning, noon, and night. From the time he woke up in the morning, helped to prepare breakfast, and paid respects to his grandfather, until the end of the day when sleep at last came, he was under the watchful eyes of this stern taskmaster, constantly at his beck and call. This is simply what it meant to be an apprentice. "Grandfather told me daily, 'Don't give in, don't compromise!'" The more difficult the times, the more often he was told this.
meant to be apprenticed. Grandfather told me daily, "Don't give in, don't compromise your standards!" The more difficult the times, the more often I heard this.