Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands. Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads". The name, Kumihimo also applies to the braids, cords and ribbons that are the product of the braiding-technique. Here are some Ring by Ring Designs Kumihimo bracelets. These are made with seed beads and long Magatama beads (the pointy ones)

Modern Kumihimo is made on a disk with 6 – 8 cords. The most common is 8 cords. Plain cords or fiber cords can be used. Most of  Ring by Ring Designs’ bracelets are made with 8 cords (though some using only 6 cords, depending on the pattern) and beads. Bracelets require about 40 beads on each cord – again, depending on the pattern. The cords with beads are then are wound on plastic bobbins to keep things in order and to prevent them falling off the cord and rolling all over the floor. (Chasing those little beads is great fun 😍) After weaving reaches the desired length the ends are tied off and finished with findings and a clasp as shown above. 

As knitting is made stitch by stitch, Chain Maille is made - ring by ring,  Kumihimo is made - bead by bead. 

Kumihimo necklaces require more beads, of course. To make things interesting and fun often f​ancy beads are added (the bead on the top left is one of a kind and the only one left - as the man who made it has died)
The focal sections of the other necklaces are mixtures of different size beads and blended colors. Designing the focal sections is lots of fun. Finding compatible colors and sizes is a challenge..