Odanaka Calendar 2026
A stencil-dyed calendar created by Koichi Odanaka from Shiwa, Iwate prefecture.
Born into a family of dyers and studied under Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984), a master in the dyeing crafts, Odanaka has worked in a wide range of fields centered around the stencil-dyeing technique. Each month's design features motifs of seasonal scenes and traditional Japanese crafts, beautifully expressed through his craftsmanship.
Keisuke Serizawa, recognized as a Living National Treasure, left behind a rich body of work using this traditional stencil-dyeing method, marked by bold originality and innovation. Odanaka carries forward this sensibility and skill, cultivated under his teacher, while expressing his own personality. His works are warm, charming, and imbued with a touch of humor.
The cover and first page for January feature the Japanese character for "horse," printed backwards and called *Hidari-Uma, to represent this year's zodiac, 2026.
*‘Hidari-Uma’: There are various stories that describe the significance of the ‘hidari-uma’ (left-facing horse). For example, when the character for horse is read backwards, it becomes “ma-u”, which is a word that means “to dance” or “to celebrate”. The symbol then became associated with high-spirits and good energy, things that we hope to carry on into the new year.
Measurements:6” x 4.25” x 0.25”
History:Kouichi Odanaka (Born 1950)
Using a small knife to carve stencils of characters and patterns, then transferring those designs onto fabric or paper through the art of katazome (stencil dyeing), Koichi Odanaka, a third-generation textile dyeing artist based in Shiwa, Iwate, and trained for eight years at the Serizawa Dye Paper Research Institute under Living National Treasure Keisuke Serizawa, continues to create works that go beyond noren curtains and furoshiki wrapping cloths to include framed illustrations inspired by fairy tales and book covers that captivate many fans.
Cardstock (calendar), paper (stand), paper(envelope)
Care Instructions:NA
Odanaka Calendars are Final Sale as they are a seasonal item.