♦History

In the Edo period (17th to 19th century), Matsusaka cotton became a very popular fabric for kimonos. At that time, ordinary people were not allowed to wear extravagant clothes made of silk or with flashy designs. Merchants from Matsusaka opened stores in the capital, Edo (now called Tokyo), and started selling the cotton fabric made in their hometown. They called it "Matsusaka cotton," and it was a hit. People loved the soft, warm cotton and fashionable indigo stripes. Because Matsusaka cotton uses fine stripes and subtle colors, at a distance it tends to look like a plain fabric and does not attract attention. However, the pattern becomes clearly visible when one approaches. This appealed to the Edo citizens' sense of sophistication. There is a rich variety of striped patterns, with over 50 types. Finding your favorite pattern of stripes is another appealing aspect of Matsusaka cotton. (At the Matsusaka Cotton Center, you can see an antique book of fabric samples from the Edo period.) When demand for Matsusaka cotton was at its highest, 500,000 kimonos worth of the fabric was being shipped every year to Edo, whose population was only one million. To put it another way, you could that say every one in two people in Edo was wearing Matsusaka cotton. Nowadays, most people in Tokyo are not familiar with Matsusaka cotton, but kabuki actors still refer to wearing a striped kimono as "wearing a Matsusaka."
Matsusaka cotton became very popular for a time, and a few merchants found huge success by selling it. Some prominent examples include the merchant families of Mitsui, Hasegawa, and Ozu. The Mitsui family is known worldwide for the Mitsukoshi department stores and Mitsui Group. In fact, Matsusaka Cotton Center is built on the spot where the Mitsui mansion used to stand . Also, the Birthplace of the Mitsui Family is located nearby, and can be seen from outside (though entry is prohibited). Plus, the Former Hasegawa Residence, a National Important Cultural Property, is close to the Matsusaka Cotton Center. Its mansion and its impressive gardens are open to visitors. Lastly, the Former Ozu Residence is also a short distance away, and can be entered.