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How to get to and play at the Minsa Crafts Museum, a tourist attraction in Ishigaki Island
Hello everyone!
Yaeyama still retains its own traditional arts and crafts,The traditional weaving of "It is called "Yaeyama mincer weaving. At the Minsa Crafts Museum, you can handle Yaeyama Kamifu and watch it being made.
This article introduces the Minsa Crafts Museum.
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What is the Minsa Crafts Museum?

At the Minsa Crafts Museum, you can sell Yaeyama mincer weaving, which is a traditional Yaeyama craft, as well as Yaeyama Kamifu and Gumpo, observe their production process, and view their history and materials.
You can actually experience weaving Yaeyama Minsa weave by hand, and you will surely feel the quality of Yaeyama Minsa weave and the fun of weaving.
Directions to Minsa Crafts Museum

Exit the Ishigaki Port Terminal and go straight down the road on your right." At the intersection of "Agriculture High School Mae", turn right along the industrial road and go straight, you will find Minsa Crafts Museum in front of Yaeyama Police Station. It takes about 10 minutes by car.
More about Minsa Crafts Museum

Yaeyama mincer weaving is an important cultural heritage of Yaeyama and has been designated as a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Your own Yaeyama Minsa weaving made during the weaving experience will be an irreplaceable and precious souvenir.
On the first floor of the Minsa Crafts Museum, there is a store and a workshop where Yaeyama Minsa weaving, Yaeyama Kamifu woven with high quality linen threads, and Gumbo for daily wear are produced. The following is a brief explanation of Yaeyama Minsa-ori for those who are not familiar with it.

There are various theories on the origin of the word "mincer," but one theory is that it refers to a "narrow" belt woven of "min" (cotton). It refers to a woven fabric made of cotton. There are two types of mincer: Okinawa Island mincer and Yaeyama mincer. The Yaeyama mincer is unique and has been a gift from a woman to her beloved man since the time of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus. The Yaeyama mincer is also characterized by its five and four squares, which is said to mean "for ever and ever". Yaeyama mincer weaving has a very romantic origin. As I mentioned, there is a workshop on the first floor, but this workshop is used to produce products for sale, and the workshop for hands-on experience is located in a separate building.

There are four types of weaving experience menus, ranging from weaving a coaster measuring 10 cm square to making a tapestry measuring nearly 40 cm. Depending on the course, the warp threads to be used are set up so that you can start right away. First, you take a board with a seat and put your body into the loom. After inserting the body, the seat is set in place again. Once you have learned how to do this, it is easy to do, so listen to the craftsman as he carefully guides you through the process! The process is quite simple, but once you get started, you will get hooked and won't be able to stop. Weaving is done by inserting the weft into the pre-set warp.

Depending on the course, a loom is provided with the warp threads to be used. A wooden tool called a shuttle is used to insert the weft into the warp. The shuttle has wheels on both ends, and the weft is woven into the warp by sliding the wheels down between the warp threads. By repeating this process, a mincer is made.
Please refer to the following for detailed procedures.
(1) Step on the foot pedal to separate the warp threads up and down.
(2) Slide the shuttle with the weft yarn set between the warp yarns to the other side.
(3) Receive the slid shuttle with the opposite hand.
(4) Pull the wooden reed toward you and incorporate the weft into the warp.
(5) Repeat steps (1) through (4).
As you become accustomed to the rhythm of the game, you will be able to proceed with a sense of ease. The sound of the shuttle gliding and the reed being pulled, and the space filled with the sound of the wood is somewhat soothing. The simplicity of the work is what makes the weaving technique so remarkable. It is important to proceed with care and attention.

However, even if it is a little misshapen, it is also tasteful. The simplicity of the work process allows even children to experience it. This is one experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
How to play at the Minsa Crafts Museum

The Minsa Crafts Museum is full of attractions, but the hands-on workshop is not to be missed! It may seem like a lot of work, but even a large table center can be made in an hour or so with no problem. Hands-on ExperienceLater you can have the finishing touches processed. If it is not crowded, you can pick it up right away! In high season, you need to find out the season you want to experience because you may not be able to experience it without making a reservation in the first place, or you may be late to receive it. However, even if you can't pick up the package during your trip to Ishigaki Island, you can have it delivered for free, so it might be a good idea to take advantage of it.
In the workshop on the first floor, you can see the craftsmen at work, so you may get some point of view before experiencing. In the exhibition room on the second floor, many representative textiles of Yaeyama, such as mincer and its prototype mincerf, are exhibited.
The store also sells Yaeyama mincer-ori obi belts, bags, and accessories. You will surely find your favorite one. You can also buy a Yaeyama Minsa-ori as a gift for your favorite boyfriend!
Address: 909 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 20 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, 7 minutes by car from Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal
Phone number: 0980-82-3473
Business hours: 09:00-18:00
Parking: Available
summary

We introduced the Minsa Crafts Museum. How was it?
At the Minsa Crafts Museum, which handles Yaeyama mincer weaving, a traditional Yaeyama craft, you can easily weave your own original loom.
The Minsa Crafts Museum is recommended for the following reasons.
Yaeyama mincer weaving, which was given as a gift from a woman to a man she liked.
Weaving that can be made in a habitual rhythm
Can be produced in 30 minutes to 1 hour
Visitors can appreciate the work process of craftsmen.
There is a museum where you can learn about the history and culture of Mincer.
Please check the above and visit the Minsa Crafts Museum.
Thank you for reading to the end.