Maruyama Printed Dishcloth – Hasui Kisho Nishiizu

A serene Japanese landscape translated into an everyday textile, the Maruyama Printed Japanese Dishcloth - Kisho Nishiizu brings together the quiet beauty of Kawase Hasui’s printmaking and Maruyama’s traditional textile craftsmanship in Nara.

The design reproduces Kisho Nishiizu, a work depicting the landscape of Nishiizu on the western coast of Japan’s Izu Peninsula. Hasui was renowned for capturing fleeting moments of atmosphere - changing light, rain, snow, mist and the stillness of the Japanese landscape - transforming familiar places into scenes of remarkable tranquillity.

Made in Nara, Japan, the dishcloth uses Maruyama’s characteristic kaya construction, inspired by the loosely woven fabric traditionally used for Japanese mosquito netting. Highly absorbent, breathable and quick-drying, the cloth begins with a slightly crisp texture and becomes wonderfully soft and supple through repeated washing and use.

Practical enough for everyday cleaning yet beautiful enough to leave on display, it is ideal for drying dishes and glassware, wiping kitchen surfaces or simply bringing a small piece of Japanese landscape art into the home.

Size: Approx. 35 × 40 cm
Material: Rayon and cotton kaya fabric - 6 layers
Design: Kisho Nishiizu by Kawase Hasui
Made in: Nara, Japan
Use: Dishes, glassware, kitchen surfaces and general household cleaning

Care: Wash before first use to remove the starch used during production and reveal the characteristic softness and absorbency of the fabric. Hand or machine wash using a mild detergent. Avoid bleach and fabric softener. Reshape and air dry naturally. Some shrinkage and softening with repeated washing are natural characteristics of the textile.

About Kisho Nishiizu

Kisho Nishiizu captures the distinctive coastal landscape of Nishiizu, on the western side of the Izu Peninsula south west of Tokyo.

Rather than simply documenting a place, Hasui sought to capture its atmosphere. Subtle gradations of colour, carefully balanced compositions and an extraordinary sensitivity to light give his landscapes their characteristic sense of stillness and contemplation.

The result is an image that feels distinctly Japanese yet remarkably modern - an intimate observation of nature and place that rewards quiet attention.

About Kawase Hasui

Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) was one of the most important Japanese landscape printmakers of the twentieth century and a leading figure in the shin-hanga, or “new prints”, movement.

Working extensively with publisher Shōzaburō Watanabe, Hasui helped revitalise traditional Japanese woodblock printing for a modern era. While retaining the collaborative skills of designer, carver, printer and publisher associated with traditional ukiyo-e, shin-hanga artists introduced new approaches to light, atmosphere, perspective and colour.

Hasui travelled extensively throughout Japan, sketching temples, villages, mountains, coastlines and quiet streets. He had a particular gift for portraying rain, snow, twilight and changing weather, often depicting places almost entirely without people. His works possess a contemplative quality that has made him one of Japan’s most admired modern print artists.

In 1956, Hasui was recognised by the Japanese government as a Living National Treasure for his contribution to traditional woodblock printmaking.

About Maruyama

Founded in Nara, Japan, in 1930, Maruyama Fiber Industry has its origins in the manufacture of kaya, the light, open-weave textile traditionally used for Japanese mosquito netting.

As Japanese lifestyles changed, Maruyama applied generations of specialist weaving knowledge to contemporary household textiles. Through its Nawrap collection, the company continues to celebrate Nara’s textile heritage, creating cloths distinguished by their absorbency, breathability, durability and exceptional softness with use.

The Kisho Nishiizu Dishcloth brings together Hasui’s poetic vision of the Japanese landscape and Maruyama’s enduring Nara textile tradition - transforming an everyday kitchen cloth into a small and beautifully functional work of art.