Tozan Washi is a handmade washi paper with roughly 800 years of history in Higashiyama, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. Its origins are told in two ways: one theory holds that survivors of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, defeated by Kamakura forces at the end of the Heian period, settled in the area and began making paper for daily use alongside farming; another holds that the construction of Hiraizumi's Chuson-ji temple created a huge demand for paper to copy sutras, and papermaking began in the neighboring Higashiyama area to meet that need. The name 'Higashiyama' is said to come from the view eastward from Mt. Tabashine near Chuson-ji, which resembled Kyoto's Higashiyama, and the district still retains a place name that literally means 'birthplace of paper,' Kamiagari. The paper is known for its simple, sturdy texture, made with kozo (paper mulberry) as almost its sole raw material.
Origin
There are several theories about the origins of Tozan Washi. One holds that survivors of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu Hiraizumi, defeated by Kamakura forces at the end of the Heian period, settled throughout the Higashiyama area and began making paper for everyday use alongside farming. Another holds that when Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first-generation lord of Hiraizumi, began construction of the halls of Chuson-ji, the large quantities of paper needed for copying sutras led to papermaking beginning in the neighboring Higashiyama area to meet that demand.
History
During the Edo period, papermaking developed with the encouragement of the Date domain, reaching its peak from the late Edo period into the Meiji era. Around 1942, Higashiyama is said to have had as many as 285 papermaking craftspeople, but as lifestyles changed the number of papermakers declined, and today only a small number of artisans, mainly in the Sanya district, continue the tradition as winter work.
Features
Tozan Washi is known for its simple, sturdy texture, made with kozo (paper mulberry) as almost its sole raw material. The name 'Higashiyama' is said to come from the view eastward from Mt. Tabashine near Chuson-ji, which resembled Kyoto's Higashiyama, and the district still retains a place name, Kamiagari, that literally means 'birthplace of paper.' Another notable feature is that the traditional production method has been passed down almost unchanged.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Harvesting and peeling kozo
Kozo branches are harvested, the black outer bark is peeled off with a knife, and the bark is dried.
- 2
Boiling and lye treatment
The dried kozo bark is boiled in a kettle, soaked in water, and treated with lye to soften the fibers.
- 3
Removing debris and beating
Tiny bits of debris are picked out of the boiled kozo bark by hand, and the fibers are beaten until loosened.
- 4
Papermaking (kami-suki)
The loosened kozo fibers are mixed with mucilage from tororo-aoi (sunset hibiscus) and formed into sheets using a su-keta (bamboo screen and wooden frame).
- 5
Drying
The formed sheets are dried, for example by pasting them onto boards, to complete the washi paper.
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How to Buy
- 東山和紙 紙すき館
- Directly run by the workshop itself, this facility displays and sells Tozan Washi. It grows its own kozo raw material, and papermaking is carried out at the workshop during the winter.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
東山和紙 紙すき館
岩手県一関市東山町長坂字町390
The papermaking experience costs 1,100 yen per person for a solo visitor, 1,700 yen total for two people, and 800 yen per person for groups of three or more. Reservations are required for groups of six or more. Open 9:00-17:00 from April to November, and 10:00-15:00 on weekends and holidays from December to March.
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