日本語 | English

■ We are featuring Stationery from Feb. 29 to Mar. 30.







Atom_feed
Kurotani-washi
The Japanese Paper in Ayabe, Kyoto
Date:30, Jun, 2019
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
About our introductory articles


So nice to meet you. I'm really glad to be here with you. Now, today I'm talking about "Kurotani-washi." Washi means Japanese paper. The Kurotani-washi is the Japanese paper that has been produced in Ayabe-shi, Kyoto.



© Kurotani-washi Kyodo Kumiai

Kyoto is very popular. You can find many sightseeing foreigners in Kyoto city everyday. Why do they so rush into Kyoto? I don't know. Each reason will be there. I'm not inclined to research at all. Anyway, it is supposed Kyoto city is popular, but Ayabe city (Ayabe-shi) is not so popular. Most people must be unfamiliar with where it is. Going northwestward from Kyoto city close to 35 miles, you can get to the city.

In the Ayabe city, they have constantly produced the Japanese paper for close to 1,000 years, it is said. Needless to say, it is called Kurotani-washi. You can see some artisans do it manually there even today.



© Kurotani-washi Kyodo Kumiai

They say washi is stronger than foreign paper, since the fibers are longer than foreign one's. So they still use Japanese paper for many like Japan's paper money or diplomas. It's said Kurotani-washi is used for paper sliding doors in the Nijo Castle (Kyoto city).

Kurotani-washi is also thought highly of in foreign countries, not only in Japan. For instance, it has been used for repairing in the Louvre Museum (France). Maybe, the Kurotani-washi was already close to you before you were aware of it.





 

Sugihara Paper
Reborn in 1972 Hyogo