KIWAMI (red) stays essentially flat at 0.1–0.15% reflectance across the entire visible-light spectrum (250–750nm), the lowest, most stable line on this chart. A well-engineered competitor flocking sheet (gray, dashed), included here as a reference point for a strong non-Musou-Black option, settles into a similarly flat band around 0.5–0.6% through most of the visible range. Musou Black Paint (blue) dips to around 0.55% near the middle of the spectrum before gradually climbing back toward roughly 0.8% near the red edge (750nm). VL Flock Sheet (yellow) actually tracks lower than Musou Black Paint through most of the visible range, but rises sharply past 675nm and climbs off the top of this 2% scale by 750nm.

This means that under any lighting condition, KIWAMI produces zero color cast, no red or blue bias, faithfully reproducing a subject's true colors. It is a true neutral black in every sense, and this overwhelming flatness is what ultimately defines the quality of precision optical measurements and high-end photography.

Moving into the near-infrared, beyond the 250–750nm range shown in this chart, KIWAMI, VL Flock Sheet, and Musou Black Paint all show a sharp rise in reflectance. For KIWAMI, total reflectance climbs to 37.7% at 950nm and remains elevated through 19–44% across the 1000–1500nm band. If your application requires low reflectance in the NIR range specifically, see our near-infrared-absorbing IR Flock Sheet, a flocked material specifically engineered to stay low through the NIR range, or FINESHUT instead.

All reflectance values are total hemispherical reflectance measured at 8° angle of incidence (AOI) using an integrating-sphere spectrophotometer (SolidSpec-3700DUV) per JIS Z 8722, source: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute.

Note: "Competitor Flocking Sheet" is a commercially available electrostatic-flocking optical sheet from a specialty flocking manufacturer, included as a reference point for a well-engineered low-reflectance fabric. The sample measured was drawn from an older reference swatch book and may not reflect the current commercial product's specification.

All six shots use the same Musou Black Fabric KIWAMI backdrop, with light intensity increasing from top-left to bottom-right. Even as the lighting gets significantly stronger, the background stays a deep, uniform black with no visible washout.

From still-life photography to portraiture, KIWAMI delivers a black unlike any conventional backdrop. The secret lies in its optically engineered three-dimensional pile structure: the pile that captures light, the resin that supports it, and the weave specification combine to keep every fiber standing perfectly upright and uniform.

The result is a 99.9% visible-light absorption rate, making it the darkest material in our entire lineup. Used as a table-top photography base or a decorative backdrop for display items, it creates a mysterious visual effect, as if the background simply does not exist. The back-coated specification has also passed the internationally recognized Oddy Test for museum-safe materials, making it safe alongside delicate and precious objects.

Why Professionals Choose KIWAMI

The non-coated specification

"Perfect for photography, but for curtains, the fabric feels a little stiff." The non-coated specification answers exactly that. By omitting the resin back-coating used for adhesive bonding, this version achieves the fabric's natural, surprisingly supple drape.

For blackout curtains, decorative backgrounds for artworks and exhibitions, or other sewn display pieces, wherever "ultimate black" demands the beauty of drape, this specification delivers outstanding performance via sewn construction rather than adhesive mounting.

Note: KIWAMI was engineered as an optical material, not as an apparel textile; the non-coated version's soft drape simply happens to suit sewn construction. We haven't evaluated it against garment-specific standards (wash colorfastness, skin-contact safety, long-term wearability), so clothing and costume use is a self-directed choice made at your own discretion and risk.

Full specifications

• Packaging: sizes close to a full roll ship mounted on a metal frame to protect the pile from pressure; per-meter cuts ship wound around a paper core.
• Wrinkle correction: flattened pile can be restored with steam and brushing in one direction. Avoid direct water contact.
• Pile direction: the manufacturing process gives the pile a directional orientation; check it before shooting for best results.
• Defects: full rolls may contain minor manufacturing defects (snags, broken threads); marked areas include an extra 20cm of length per defect.
• General: pressure, abrasion, and moisture exposure reduce light-absorption performance.

Musou Black | Koyo Orient Japan Co., Ltd.

Musou Black Fabric KIWAMI is developed and manufactured by Musou Black, a black-materials specialist brand founded in 2020 as an in-house venture of Koyo Orient Japan Co., Ltd., based in Ageo, Saitama, Japan.

Driven by a mission to solve light-reflection problems across industry and art, Musou Black combines world-class light-absorption technology with small-lot accessibility, serving customers in over 60 countries. Our materials have been adopted in applications ranging from professional photography and fine art to optical instruments and JAXA space-telescope missions.

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