Kyo Sudare (bamboo blinds) An indisposable item at the Imperial Palace in the Heian period, bamboo blinds were forbidden to be used for the homes of the townspeople, who used blinds which were not green. Bamboo blinds have been passed down through the generations as an art craft in Kyoto, where there are many shrines, temples, restaurants and other traditional places. After the Meiji period, the square angular bamboo rods became rounded and the zashiki sudare, which was green on all four sides came to be known as Kyo sudare and spread nationwide. The hand-woven Kyo sudare is known as a luxury item and today, most of these handmade items are made in Kyoto. The ashi sudare (reed blinds), whose materials come from the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, are thought to be especially of high-quality. Its practicality as a partition and sun shade and its charming design has made it a popular product, which has been exported to the West as well. BACK