Kaga Temari Mariya
Rare even within Japan, we are a shop specializing in Kaga temari and Kaga thimbles. Our products are made by hand the traditional way, by sewing beautiful multi-colored threads, and each item is truly one of a kind.

Kaga temari
In the past Kaga temari (thread balls) were children’s toys. Now they are handicrafts used in interior design to decorate rooms. The delicate sound produced when shaken is characteristic of Kaga temari. It is said that if the sound comes through clearly, the person holding the ball will receive good luck. Kaga temari are believed to have been first brought to Kanazawa during the Edo Period (1603-1868) by Princess Tama of the Tokugawa family, when she married the feudal lord Maeda. In Kanazawa there is a practice of giving these balls to daughters when they are getting married, to bring them happiness. We have been making these cotton balls by hand at Mariya since the shop’s establishment, creating the patterns with threaded needles, one thread at a time. Please enjoy the beautiful, lucky Kaga temari!

Kaga yubinuki
Kaga yubinuki silk thimbles are a sewing tool made since the olden days, and Kanazawa is the home of this craft. They are made using the threads, cloth and silk floss left over after sewing kimono; creating thimbles is a way of utilizing these leftover materials. On the surface they are covered with a characteristic pattern made out of tightly woven, beautiful silk threads, while on the inside there are layers of silk floss and cardboard, making them very durable. At one time even the people making Kaga yubinuki were going to stop this tradition, which has been decreasing in popularity. However, in recent years both their beauty and the joy of creating the thimbles have been revived, and new lovely patterns are continuously being created. While preserving this traditional craft, at Mariya we also offer gorgeous new designs and different ways of using Kaga thimbles.