This is a poncho made from "Yukara-ori," a beautiful fabric born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. This design was created as a prototype, making it a rare, one-of-a-kind item (a large square stole was made into a poncho after purchase). 《Yukara-ori》 Created in 1962 by the dyeing artist Aya Kinouchi of Asahikawa, Hokkaido. She wanted to express the beautiful natural scenery of Hokkaido's four seasons through weaving and to cultivate a traditional craft in Hokkaido, which has a short history. From this desire, "Yukara-ori" was born. "Yukara" refers to the lyrical poetry of the Ainu people, meaning "to pass down." However, this name was sometimes misunderstood as being a traditional Ainu craft, and out of respect for the Ainu people, the name was changed to "Yukara-ori" by the printmaker Shiko Munakata, a friend of Kinouchi's. The katakana "ユーカラ織" (Yukara-ori) was then changed to the kanji "優佳良織" (Yukara-ori). Yukara-ori is woven from the wool of Hokkaido sheep, with all three processes – dyeing, spinning, and weaving – done by hand. To express a variety of colors, 200-300 different colored threads are used, and the fabric, created by layering colors using advanced dyeing and weaving techniques, is as beautiful as an oil painting, expressing a richness of color. Its beauty eventually caught the attention of people and received high international acclaim, winning the gold prize at the Hungarian International Textile Biennial in 1978. It was also invited to exhibitions throughout Europe and became recognized as an international art craft. It has also been dedicated to Yakushiji Temple in Nara. In 1987, it received the Hokkaido Culture Award, and in 1995, the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award. After Kinouchi passed away, her disciples have taken over ＜Yukara-ori＞. This work was created during Kinouchi's lifetime. Size: Length - 97cm from shoulder to fringe, 60.5cm, 58.3cm The stole was never used. It has been used twice since being made into a poncho. The colorful patterns stand out against the black background, giving it a unique feel. The purchase price was 70,000 yen. I hope that those who are interested and feel a connection to Yukara-ori will find this appealing.