Sekishu Washi (Iwami Handmade Paper)
Sekishu Washi (Iwami Handmade Paper)
Sekishu Washi is handmade washi made in the Iwami region of western Shimane Prefecture, mainly in Misumi Town, Hamada City. Sekishu is another name for Iwami Province. It is made from kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata and gampi by nagashi-zuki (Japanese papermaking by rocking the mould) using a bamboo screen (takesu). Among its papers, Sekishu-banshi, made from locally grown kozo, is known for its strong, tough quality, and in the Edo period it was highly valued by Osaka merchants as paper for account books. In 1969 (Showa 44), the techniques of Sekishu-banshi were designated a National Important Intangible Cultural Property. In 2014, together with Hon-minoshi and Hosokawa-shi, it was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage under the title 'Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper'. Sekishu Washi became a Traditional Craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (a national Traditional Craft) in 1989 (Heisei 1). The number of producers, which exceeded 6,000 households in the Meiji era, has declined, and today four workshops protect the tradition, remaining committed to local kozo.
Origin
As for the origins of Sekishu Washi, there is a legend that the Man'yoshu poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro taught papermaking to the people when posted to Iwami Province. This story is recorded in the Kamisuki Chohoki (a papermaking manual), published in Kansei 10 (1798). Its author, 国東治兵衛, was a paper wholesaler in Iwami who worked to spread Iwami-banshi. On the other hand, according to an explanation by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, papermaking was already being carried out in Iwami Province by the early 10th century.
History
In the Edo period, papermaking flourished in the Hamada domain and the Tsuwano domain, and the Hamada domain managed Sekishu Washi as a source of revenue for the domain. Paper of the standard size called 'hanshi' made in Sekishu was used for account books by Osaka merchant houses, and the name Sekishu-banshi spread. The Kamisuki Chohoki, which explained the processes with illustrations, also supported the development of the production area. Producers numbered 6,377 households in 1889 (Meiji 22) but had fallen to 279 by 1948 (Showa 23). In 2009, Sekishu-banshi was inscribed on its own as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in 2014 the inscription was extended into its current form.
Features
The greatest feature of Sekishu Washi is its strong, resilient paper. For Sekishu-banshi, the amakawa (the inner layer just beneath the outer bark of the kozo) is left on and used, which makes the fibers tough. Although its surface is slightly darkish, ink is said to be less likely to bleed when written on it. Its yellowish tone turns a beautiful white as time passes. Because it withstands long-term preservation, it is used for restoring cultural properties, as paper for calligraphy and painting, and for shoji screens, and it is also a material for Iwami Kagura masks and the bodies of the orochi (giant serpent).
Techniques
Nagashi-zuki
A technique in which paper fibers and a mucilage taken from the roots of tororo-aoi (sunset hibiscus) are mixed in water, scooped up with a sugeta (screen and frame) and rocked so that the fibers intertwine to form a sheet. For Sekishu Washi, a bamboo screen is used, and sheets are formed with back-and-forth movements only. The mucilage disperses the fibers evenly in the water and also makes stacked sheets easier to peel apart.
Raw-material preparation that leaves the amakawa
A process called kurokawa-sozori, in which the black outer bark of the kozo is scraped off piece by piece with a knife, leaving the amakawa just inside it. The Agency for Cultural Affairs states that techniques that make use of natural materials, as represented by this method, produce the tough quality of Sekishu-banshi. Kozo grown for three years is used as the raw material.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Scraping the bark (kurokawa-sozori)
The outer bark is scraped off piece by piece with a knife from kozo bark that has been softened by soaking in water.
- 2
Cooking (shajuku)
The scraped white bark is washed in water and boiled in a pot with soda ash to soften it.
- 3
Removing impurities (chiri-tori)
Any remaining impurities are carefully removed from the cooked material.
- 4
Beating
The material is beaten to loosen the fibers and turn them into paper stock, the base of the paper.
- 5
Sheet forming (papermaking)
Water, paper stock and tororo-aoi mucilage are put into the sukibune (papermaking vat) and stirred, and sheets are formed by nagashi-zuki with a bamboo screen.
- 6
Drying
The formed sheets are peeled off one by one and dried in the sun or by other means.
- 7
Sorting
Each sheet is checked for thickness, unevenness and flaws and sorted accordingly.
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Artisans & Workshops
西田和紙工房
A workshop in 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City. It is said to have been started by the first generation, 作三, around the Bunka and Tenpo eras, and has continued through the seventh generation, 西田誠吉, to the eighth generation, 西田勝. Using groundwater and local kozo, mitsumata and gampi, the workshop handles everything in-house, starting from processing the raw materials. It also makes paper for restoring cultural properties and paper for kagura.
Official site →石州和紙久保田
A workshop in 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City. Its representative, 久保田彰, was born in 1950 and began papermaking in 1974 as an apprentice to 久保田彰's father, 久保田保一. 久保田彰 serves as representative director of 石州和紙協同組合 (the Sekishu Washi cooperative) and vice-chair of 石州半紙技術者会 (the association of Sekishu-banshi technicians), and is a certified traditional craftsperson for Sekishu Washi.
Official site →西田製紙所
A workshop in 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City. Using kozo, mitsumata, gampi and tororo-aoi, it makes washi by hand, starting from preparing the raw materials. Firewood is used as fuel for the cooking pot. Besides Sekishu-banshi, unryu-shi (paper with long visible fibers) and ryoshi (decorative calligraphy paper) adorned with gold and silver leaf, it also makes kaishi (pocket paper), letter paper, business cards and more.
Official site →工房かわひら
A workshop in 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City. For generations, the family has grown kozo and tororo-aoi from spring to autumn and made paper in winter, handling everything from cultivating the raw materials to finished products. It also takes custom orders for washi for art, building materials, restoring cultural properties and other uses.
Official site →How to Buy
- 石州和紙会館
- The hub facility for Sekishu Washi, at 589 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City. It opened in October 2008, and admission is free. Its permanent exhibition introduces the papermaking process and historical materials, and Sekishu Washi is also sold there. It is closed on Mondays (or the next weekday if Monday is a public holiday) and during the year-end and New Year holidays.Where to buy →PR
- Mail order and orders from each workshop
- 西田和紙工房 sells by mail order through its official website. 工房かわひら accepts product purchases and custom orders through an order form, and 西田製紙所 takes orders by email or phone. It is also easy to consult them about paper suited to your purpose.Where to buy →PR
- 石州和紙協同組合
- The production-area cooperative, with its office at 683-3 古市場, Misumi Town, Hamada City (tel. 0855-32-1166). Four workshops are members: 工房かわひら, 石州和紙久保田, 西田和紙工房 and 西田製紙所. It serves as a point of contact for questions about products and producers.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
石州和紙会館 紙漉き体験
島根県浜田市三隅町古市場589
You can try papermaking at the attached workshop and take home the washi you made on the spot. Fees (tax included) as revised in April 2024 include 770 yen for two postcard-size sheets, 1,650 yen for one A3 sheet made by nagashi-zuki, and 1,980 yen for two shikishi-size (square art board) sheets. Reservations are required, and for up to five people it takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
View details →西田製紙所 和紙づくり体験
島根県浜田市三隅町古市場1752
The official website lists a beginner course in which you make two pieces, a course for making large-format creative washi, and a craftsperson course in which you experience the work from preparing the kozo. It is offered mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and reservations are required by 6 p.m. two days in advance. Because it is unclear when the fees were posted, it is advisable to confirm them when booking.
View details →工房かわひら 工房見学・手漉き体験
島根県浜田市三隅町古市場683-3
A workshop that makes washi in an integrated process starting from cultivating the raw materials, which accepts workshop visits and hand papermaking experiences. Reservations are made through the inquiry form on the official website.
View details →FAQ
Q. How do Sekishu Washi and Sekishu-banshi differ?
A. Sekishu Washi is a general term for washi made in the Iwami region and includes kozo paper, mitsumata paper, gampi paper and more. Sekishu-banshi is the kozo paper among them that is made from locally grown kozo using traditional techniques. It is a National Important Intangible Cultural Property, and its techniques are carried on by members of 石州半紙技術者会 (the association of Sekishu-banshi technicians).
Q. Is it true that Kakinomoto no Hitomaro started it?
A. It is a legend based on the statement in the Edo-period Kamisuki Chohoki that Hitomaro taught papermaking to the people of Iwami, and it is not a story confirmed by historical records. However, Hitomaro has been revered as a deity in Iwami, and for people engaged in papermaking has also been regarded as a god of paper.