THE AMERICAN KUMIHIMO SOCIETY PRESENTS
AKS Mini GATHERING 2026 – Online Program
September 23rd – 26th
Bringing the Gathering to You
From Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota
The “Twin Cities”
…
REGISTRATION BEGINS Saturday Aug 1, 2026
Limited to 50 Participants
Program Information:
Classes and presentations will be offered live via Zoom and recorded.
You can attend the live sessions and/or watch the recordings whenever it’s convenient for you – as many times as you’d like!
$195 Registration Package Includes:
- Pre-Recorded Class: Scallop Lace with Makiko Tada, includes a live Q&A on Saturday, Sept. 26th starting @ 1:30pm Central Time
- Live Zoom Workshop: Infinite Potential with Yuko Yoshida, Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 2 – 5 pm Central Time
- Live Zoom Workshop: Sasanami Blossoms with Masumi Tada, Saturday, Sept. 26th, 8:30 – 11:30am Central Time
- Live Presentation: AKS: The First 10 Years, Thursday, Sept. 24th, 8:30 – 9:15am Central Time
- Live Presentation with Masumi Tada, Friday, Sept. 25th, 8:30 – 9:15am Central Time
You will have access to recordings until December 31st, 2026
Class Information:
Yuko Yoshida – Infinite Potential
Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 2:00 – 5:00pm Central Time
Designed for students proficient in 16-tama marudai braids, this class offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from Yuko Yoshida, author of Infinite Potential of Kumihimo. Through a detailed video presentation and live braiding demonstrations, Yuko will share her innovative spirals, leaf forms, and stunning Flower Crown designs, along with valuable tips for creating consistent, beautiful braids. As Yuko says, “Simply braiding kumihimo and braiding it beautifully are not exactly the same.”
This lecture and demonstration class explores a variety of braids, so students will not need any braiding materials during class.
x
x
x
Masumi Tada – Sasanami Blossoms
Saturday, Sept. 26th, 8:30 – 11:30am Central Time
Using an Octo-Plate, students will learn this elegant braid with graceful curves and a lacy, open design. Masumi will demonstrate how her subtle changes to the traditional Sasanami structure create movement and negative space. Although the necklace will not be completed during the class, students will learn how to finish it independently.
Preparation instructions will be provided in advance. Students will supply their own Octo-Plate and fiber (silk, metallic, or any other multi-strand fiber will work).
x
x
Makiko Tada – Scallop Lace
Pre-recorded Class
Another Makiko original, this beautiful marudai braid features delicate openwork that highlights its graceful outer curves. Students will learn both 16-tama and 24-tama versions.
Registrants will receive the pre-recorded class video presentation along with PDF instructions one week before the AKS Gathering.
Live Q&A: Saturday, Sept. 26th, 1:30pm Central Time
An opportunity to ask questions after you’ve had time to explore the braid.
Japan’s Masumi Tada, the daughter-in-law of internationally recognized kumihimo artist Makiko Tada, has studied kumihimo braiding techniques for more than 20 years, and has worked as Makiko’s assistant for four years. Masumi received a doctoral degree in the replication of ancient historic Japanese braids, contributing to Japanese national treasure restorations. Her studies have included techniques of marudai, takadai, ayatakadai, disk, plate, and Kute-uchi loop braiding, which she sees as the core technique from which many other Japanese braiding techniques evolved.
Japan’s Makiko Tada is largely responsible for the growing international interest in the art of Kumihimo braiding. She creates designs from both traditional patterns and from her own original designs and is an expert on the long history of kumihimo. After restoring ancient national treasure braids from the Kyoto National Museum, she dedicated them to Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Hayatama Shrine.
Makiko Tada conducts research and lectures in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia and authored the seven-volume “Comprehensive Treatise of Braids”. While completing her Doctorate of Engineering at Kyoto Institute of Technology she received funding from the Japanese government to invent a new braiding machine for composite materials. This machine will be vital for making components for the construction and aerospace industries.
Dr. Makiko Tada’s 60 years of research, artistry, authorship, and invention assure the art of Kumihimo braiding will touch and enrich many lives across the world.
Japan’s Yuko Yoshida is a kumihimo artist, teacher and reseacher. Kumihimo attracted her at first encounter in 2009. Since 2012, she studied with Makiko Tada. While mainly making Obijime for Kimono with traditional patterns, she also focuses on creative works. She favors Maru-dai, Taka-dai, and create original braids inspired by traditional techniques.
Yuko has developed her skills over many years of studying and practice. For that she has received the title of Takumi (master craft person) from Tokusaburo Hirosawa — who was in charge of kumihimo in Iga.