"Tsumami-zaiku" is a traditional craft designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that has been passed down since the Edo period, in which small pieces of cloth are folded and combined to form the flowers, birds, wind, and moon of the four seasons, and then used to brilliantly decorate combs and hairpins.

The history of tsumami zaiku dates back about 200 years, and it began as a technique for making small Japanese items that was enjoyed as a hobby by ladies-in-waiting at the Imperial Court and maids-in-waiting at the feudal lord's residence.
Since the Meiji period, this has been applied to flower hairpins and flower combs, which are indispensable to Japanese hairstyles. The soft-to-the-touch, cute and gorgeous tsumami-zaiku is an essential part of Japanese events such as Shichi-Go-San, Coming-of-Age ceremonies, and weddings, and is still popular today as a hair ornament to brighten up women's special days.
While combs and hairpins made by artisans are gaining popularity, in recent years the number of people enjoying Japanese culture has increased, and more and more people are making "tsumami zaiku" as a hobby.

Tsumami-zaiku, which combines traditional techniques with modern sensibilities, is now a popular handmade craft.
At first glance, tsumami zaiku may seem difficult to make, but it is actually made using two simple techniques.
By applying these two techniques - the round and gentle shape of "marutsumami" and the sharp and dignified shape of "kentsumami" - and by playing around with the type, size and colour of fabric, a variety of different looks are created.

A typical example is hair ornaments that go with traditional Japanese clothing, and the most easily recognizable example is the technique used in the hairpins worn by maiko.