Firstly, the meaning of the Japanese word "Kumihimo".  "Kumi" means to plait or gather together, "Himo" a string or cord.  So "Kumihimo" means plaited or braided cords.

Braiding is traditionally done on a Marudai, a round braiding stand, generally made of wood.  The ancient braiders would kneel at it to do their braiding. Todays braiders, either sit, or place it on a table and stand to braid.

The modern and more portable versions of the Marudai are the Kumihimo Disk and Plate, which are made of durable dense foam.

Braiding has been part of almost every culture throughout the ages.  The Japanese began braiding cord and silk for the Samurai warriors to lace and decorate their armour and scabbards..  They also developed different styles to use more decoratively as an obi-jime, the final and most beautiful cord used to fasten the Kimono.

Archeologists have discovered beautifully preserved samples of Kumihimo type cords from the sands of the Tarim Basin in China's northwest, along the route of the "Silk Road".  The earliest of these, precede by centuries, the Chinese entry into this region, which occurred in 110BC.  Braids dating back thousands of years have also been found in the Andes.

In today's Western society, Kumihimo uses are many and varied.  Kuihimo has found it's place in the world of fashion as Jewelry, Belts and enhancements on garments.  The braids can also be used for things like Key Rings, Scissor Keepers, Lanyards Curtain Tie-backs, Shoelaces, Bookmarks, and Bag Handles, to name just a few.

Kumihimo Braids are both durable and beautiful, and have patterns in them that are formed by varying the sequence of the thread movements while braiding, as well as by the initial colour and number of threads used when setting up the Kumihimo Disk or Marudai.

This information has been gathered from a variety of sources and was part of a talk given at a Celebration of Arts.