Kakegawa hand-woven kudzu cloth is a traditional textile made from the bast fibers of the kudzu plant, which grows wild in the mountains and fields. Recognized as a specialty of Kakegawa since the Kamakura period, it was prized for samurai riding hakama due to its durability and water resistance. The craft flourished during the Tokugawa era, protected by local lords, and was used for garments such as kamishimo, hakama, and travel raincoats. Though it declined after the Meiji Restoration, it found new life as fusuma sliding door material, later inspiring “Kakegawa Glass Cloth” wallpaper exported to the U.S. in the 1890s. The ban on kudzu exports from Korea in the 1960s led to a sharp decline, but the craft survives today in folk art. There are two main types: cloth woven entirely from kudzu fibers, used for work clothes and bags, and cloth with silk, linen, or cotton warp and kudzu weft, used for formal wear. Known for its soft, subdued luster and dignified texture, Kakegawa kudzu cloth continues to be handwoven using traditional methods, preserving a harmonious blend of nature and craftsmanship.