Eco-Friendly Traditional Cotton Dishcloths Unite a Community

Gara-bo Aikokai, a non-profit organization based in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been encouraging people to protect the environment by starting with their kitchens, by promoting the use of detergent-free cloths for washing dishes. With local unused fields that in the past were the center of cotton production, the NGO has also started cultivating cotton plants without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in its bid to revive the local industry.

"Gara-bo" is a spinning method that was developed in the early Meiji Era (which lasted from 1858 to 1912) in Japan and highly praised abroad. It has, however, become obsolete with the growth of foreign spinning methods. Ryoko Honda, who was active in efforts to improve the water quality in nearby Lake Sanaru, discovered the history of Gara-bo dishcloths in 1989 and has been promoting them since then, through the organization.

Using their past experience, about 40 elderly residents undertook the task of cultivating and spinning cotton. According to Honda, they enjoy these activities, believing that they are playing an important role in preserving the local culture. The passing on of traditional wisdom and techniques from the elderly is also developing the relationships between generations in the community.

Children also participate in cotton harvesting. Fascinated with white cotton, they handpick it with tender care. "I'd like to preserve the authentic texture of traditional cotton for children," said Honda. The organization aims to produce one ton of cotton in 2005.



Posted: 2005/03/23 09:11:58 AM
Japanese version