The history of indigo farming and sukumo production in Tokushima
stretches back over 4 centuries. While historically indigo was
grown throughout Japan, the Kingdom of Awa, as Tokushima was
known in the feudal period, began developing a monopoly on
indigo in Japan under the leadership of Iemasa Hachitsuka in the
late 1600's. By investing heavily in research and development,
the feudal government developed indigo crops and refined methods
of composting that led to a superior quality of indigo. These
developments were heavily guarded secrets, and while this
information was disseminated through trade schools, their
graduates swore and oath - on the penalty of death - to not take
their knowledge of Awa indigo production to other parts of
Japan. This was serious business, and the investment paid off.
At its peak in the late 1800's there were nearly 36,000 acres of
indigo under cultivation in Tokushima that produced indigo dye
that was sold throughout the country. When Westerners arrived in
Japan in the late 19th Ce