Kumejima-tsumugi (久米島紬) is the Japanese craft of silk cloth practised in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture.
Silk production has been practiced in Kumejima since the 15th century, after a local, having studied sericulture in Ming Dynasty China, transmitted the techniques.
By the 17th century, kumejima-tsumugi formed part of the tribute paid to the Ryūkyū Kings, and it was transported to Edo via the Satsuma Domain.
It is then dyed with the kasuri technique, using indigenous plant dyes and a mud mordant to give it its characteristic black-brown colouring; the plants used are the guru, techika, kurubo or Japanese persimmon, yamamomo and yuna, or cotton tree hibiscus.
[3][1][2] In 2004, the Kumejima Kasuri Technique Preservation Society (久米島紬保持団体) was founded, and kumejima-tsumugi was designated one of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan.