Master Yasuo Nakajima of Hanyu City, Japan, is a master indigo dyer and successor to the family business founded in the mid-19th century, Nakajima Indigo Dye Works. Master Nakajima continues to operate the dye-works using the traditional methods of natural indigo dyes, kept alive in sunken earthenware vats. As a designated regional Living Treasure of Japan, Master Nakajima's goal is to impart his experience, skills, and knowledge to the next generation of artisans and artists wishing to work with traditional Japanese indigo dye techniques.

In an effort to bring traditional skills and voices into the curriculum, the Textiles Program has cultivated a nine-year relationship with Master Nakajima. During three week-long residencies occurring in 1997, 2002, and 2005, routine classes were suspended and Master Nakajima taught, demonstrated, and lectured about a wide variety of indigo dye techniques to all students taking courses in the program.

Master Nakajima illuminated the entire process of traditional indigo dye production, from cultivation, harvest, and fermentation of the indigo leaves through the extraction and conversion of the pigment to a soluble form. In addition, Master Nakajima generously demonstrated katazome, a paste-resist method for indigo dyeing of fabric, and ikat, a resist dye method for dyeing thread. Both have been practiced in Japan for several hundred years. His assistants, two master Japanese seamstresses, also taught shibori, a stitch-resist method for indigo-dyeing fabric that has been practiced in Japan for over a thousand years.

These intensive learning experiences focused the attention of the entire student body on the depth and breadth of Japanese indigo surface design techniques. Just as important, these cross-cultural encounters provided a unique opportunity for students to be immersed in Japanese aesthetic and philosophical approaches.