Kokura-ori is a type of cloth weaving that has been used since the early Edo Period in the Buzen-Kokura Domain (Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture) to make hakamas and obis; this type of weaving is characterized by frequent weaving warps which give rise to rhythmic color and an overwhelming sense of three-dimensionality.
A favorite of Tokugawa Ieyasu, this sturdy and supple cotton cloth was prized throughout Japan.
Unfortunately, due to the wartime at the start of the Showa era, the craft temporarily came to an end, but it has been restored and revived as a modern type of cloth.
Modern patterns such as vertical stripes and solid colors have become popular, and the cloth is used to make not only obis and kimonos, but also wrapping paper, bags, business card holders, neckties, and more.