Comprehensive Treatise of Braids I: Maru-dai Braids 1
by Makiko Tada
This fifth edition of Makiko Tada's classic Maru-dai braids book, published in 2025, features photographs of 120 traditional Japanese braids.
The book includes detailed sections on materials and equipment, color setup drafts, and information on the number of tama and counterweight required. Much of the Japanese text is accompanied by English translations. Some sections remain in Japanese, but the English text and clear illustrations make this a valuable reference for braiders.
For readers who would like access to all the text in English, A Supplementary Translation of Makiko Tada’s CTB 1 Marudai Braids With Commentary by Michael Hattori is available separately.
What's Inside
• Table of Contents: Lists all 120 braids by name in Japanese and English, along with the number of tama required for each.
• Examples: Color photographs of all 120 finished braids, collected in a section at the front of the book.
• History and Culture of Kumihimo: Background on Japanese braiding traditions.
• Materials and Equipment: Information about tools and materials used for Marudai braiding.
• Preparations: Guidance on preparing to braid.
• Marudai Braiding Techniques: 120 numbered braids with black-and-white setup diagrams and tama counts.
• Color Suggestions: Suggested color combinations for most patterns.
All 120 braiding techniques are for the Marudai, using from 4 to 36 tama. Each braid has a color photograph in the opening examples section, while the individual pattern instructions provide the information needed for braiding.
Language: Japanese with substantial English translations • Softcover • Color photographs and black-and-white diagrams • 168 pages • Published in Japan, 2025
