Misao Jo, SAORI Weaving Founder 

SAORI has 4 slogans:

• Consider the differences between machines and people
• Weave with a Happy Heart
• Explore with all your might
• Learn together as a group

“SAORI” is a contemporary hand weaving style founded by Misao Jo (born in 1913, Osaka, Japan, picture) in 1968. It is a free-style weaving without any rules or restrictions of what or how to weave. SAORI: “SA” of SAORI has the same meaning as the first syllable of the Zen world “SAI”. It means everything has its own individual dignity. “ORI” means weaving in Japanese. SAORI weaving is not merely the act of weaving a piece of cloth; it is an attempt to identify our true selves. This therapeutic way of weaving heals you from your busy daily lives because SAORI is free-style weaving. Enjoy “being empty” and “expressing yourself” while weave. Our mission is not to teach you, but lead you to true “Freedom”.

“All flowers are beautiful, even though each individual flower is different in form and color. Because of this difference, “all are good”. Because everything has the same life, life cannot be measure by a yardstick. It is this individuality that makes everything meaningful and the uniqueness of each thread that creates the tapestry of life.
~Misao Jo, founder of SAORI

American Swedish Institute “Great Makers Exchange” July, 2015

Well designed SAORI loom

SAORI loom SX60

SAORI in Japan develops and produces original looms that are very “weaver-friendly”.  A SAORI loom greatly simplifies the process of warping and threading, and allows anyone to weave merely by following the simplest instructions. It has only 2 harnesses, whereas other conventional looms have 4, 8 or more. SAORI also has ready-made warps, SAORI’s original accessory, with which the weaves can skip the warping process entirely and start weaving easily.

Dan and Chiaki O’Brien, Studio FUN is a authorized SAORI looms/accessories dealer.