Wamen(Japonica cotton)
数年前から綿の栽培をしています。河内(かわち)木綿やアップランド綿(洋綿)など、いろんなコットンを栽培しましたが、今は和綿の真岡(もおか)木綿を栽培しています。そして、しばらくは真岡和綿を栽培しようと思っています。
I have grown cottons from a few years ago. I brought up various kinds of cotton. I grow Japonica cottons this year . And I will cultivate this kind of cotton for the time being.
By the way, cotton is not native to Japan. More than 1200 ago from now, cotton seeds came to Japan. However, it was never continuous cultivation. In the 16th century, cotton began to be cultivated continuously in Japan. After that, cotton was improved to suit the climate of Japan. We call “Wamen ” this cotton. The meaning is “Japanese cotton” .
五月の連休に種をまき、 間引きをしたり、摘心をしたり—、大切に育ててきた綿が花を咲かせ、昨日ようやく今年最初の実を開きました。残暑厳しい毎日ですが、次々に花を咲かせているので、これからの収穫が楽しみです。
But Japanese cotton was unsuitable for modern spinning machines. Because Japanese cotton is short fiber. As a result, cultivation of Japanese cotton has declined after modern times. However, it is a beautiful cotton suitable for the climate of Japan.
この綿で今年はタテもヨコも手紡ぎの糸でストールを織りたいと思っています。
I’d like to make works with Japanese cotton. First of all I’d like to weave a shawl.