Boro: The Art of Necessity tells the story of artistry born from hardship. It traces history and memories through patched and mended fabrics a Japanese textile culture where no scrap of material is wasted, and whose economical creations were passed down between the generations. The book contains photo-documentation of key pieces from the collection of folklorist, archaeologist and ethnologist Chuzaburo Tanaka (1933-2013). This publication surveys the history of boro as textiles, but also examines boros changing social, economic and aesthetic status. It includes critical texts by Staffan Appelgren, Petra Holmberg, Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada and Philip Warkander. With photo-documentation by Kyoichi Tsuzuki. Published in collaboration with the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm.