Embroidery workshop in Kyoto

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), this traditional
craft began experiencing great drawbacks as artisans lost patrons due to the
abolishment of the feudal system and the weakened position of Buddhist temples
as a result of the anti-Buddhist movement at the time. Consequently, the
embroidery industry in Japan looked to foreign markets for business. In doing
so, the extent of embroidery application suddenly widened, leading to the
creation of not only embroidered paintings for pure appreciation, but also
embroidered items such as folding screens, tapestries, curtains, and table
cloths that would befit western interior.