Tsugaru's traditional crafts shine! The pattern calendar "Kogin Embroidery Pattern Collection" is really nice

Koginbank, a company that handles information dissemination and product development related to Kogin embroidery, has planned and produced the 2027 edition of"Kogin Embroidery Pattern Collection," a calendar that allows you to enjoy the patterns of Kogin embroidery, a traditional craft of Tsugaru, at home or on your desk. It features patterns of "antique Kogin" held in the collections of three private exhibition halls in Aomori Prefecture, spread across 12 months.

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Kogin embroidery is a technique that developed from the need for protection against the cold and to reinforce clothing

The patterns of Kogin embroidery served not only as decorative elements but also as a way to make clothing warmer and more durable

Cotton could not be grown in the cold Tsugaru region, making it an expensive commodity. Furthermore, the "Frugal Living Regulations for Farmers" issued in 1724 (Kyoho 9) imposed restrictions on farmers' clothing, requiring them to wear hemp work clothes

To improve the warmth and durability of linen clothing, "kogin embroidery" was developed. Women in rural areas would embroider linen with cotton thread. It is characterized by the use of white cotton thread on indigo-dyed linen, and by creating geometric patterns by counting the vertical weave threads in odd numbers

When the use of cotton was legalized during the Meiji era and cotton thread became more readily available, kogin embroidery developed further. However, as cotton clothing itself became widely available, the time-consuming process of kogin embroidery gradually fell out of use

Later, the beauty of kogin embroidery was widely introduced by Muneyoshi Yanagi, an art critic and proponent of the folk craft movement , and kogin, which had been used for everyday clothing, began to be appreciated as a craft as well.

What is "Kogin Kosaku"?

"Kosaku Kogin" refers to kogin-embroidered kimonos and other garments made for farmers in Tsugaru from the late Edo period to the Meiji era

The patterns, created by counting the threads of the fabric, are characterized by their different appearances on the front and back. The calendar showcases these patterns in actual size, with a different pattern each month

Documenting the events along with three private exhibition halls

The people who cooperated in the production were

• Yoko Sato Kogin Exhibition Hall(Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)
• Yumemiru Kogin-kan(Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)
• Agricultural Crafts (Ryo Okawa) Memorial Museum(Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)

These three buildings

Each museum is supported by the efforts of individuals. There is no guarantee that the environment in which people can experience the patterns and techniques of the collections will continue to be the same in the future

This calendar is produced annually to document the cultural resources of the region, and starting with the 2027 edition, the calendars previously published separately by the three museums have been integrated into a single product

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Wall-hanging type with design and a newly introduced tabletop type

The 2027 edition is available in two types: wall-hanging and desk calendar. Both are printed in black and white and are 12-month calendars starting on Monday

The wall-hanging version includes one design of your choice from the patterns shown at the back of the book. You can not only admire the patterns, but also enjoy stitching them yourself

The newly added desktop type comes in a stand case. While it's small enough to sit on a desk, the patterns are printed at actual size. This version does not include a pattern sheet

item	Wall-mounted type	Tabletop type
Price (tax included)	2,200 yen	1,320 yen
size	13cm x 26cm (vertical double-page spread)	15.5cm x 10.5cm (horizontal orientation)
specification	Black and white print / 12 months, starting Monday	Black and white print / 12 months, starting Monday
Design	One item is included at the end of the book	No accessories included
Stand case	—	Included

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Sales begin October 3, 2026

The 2027 edition of "Kogin Embroidery Pattern Collection" will be released on Saturday, October 3, 2026

This calendar is sure to appeal not only to those who love Kogin embroidery, but also to anyone who is interested in geometric patterns

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