Yasudagami is a handmade washi (Japanese paper) made in the Shimizu district of Aridagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture. It is made from the bark of kozo (paper mulberry) and is characterized by its white, strong paper that resists tearing. After the former Kishu Domain, it is also called 'Kishu handmade washi'. It is said to have begun in the early Edo period, when Tokugawa Yorinobu, lord of the Kishu Domain, ordered papermaking within the domain and the village head Kasamatsu Satayu established papermaking. The techniques are said to have been learned from Yoshino in Nara, and at its peak there were reportedly about 400 households making paper for umbrellas, folding fans and documents. In the 1900s, demand fell with the spread of mass-produced paper and Western-style umbrellas, and the great flood of 1953 damaged many papermaking workshops. In 1979, the remaining craftspeople set out to pass on the techniques, and today papermaking is carried on at '体験交流工房わらし'. In 1988 (Showa 63), it became a Wakayama Prefecture Governor-Designated Local Traditional Craft.
Origin
Tokugawa Yorinobu, who became lord of the Kishu Domain in 1619, is said to have learned that although the domain had rice and salt, it had no paper production, and to have ordered papermaking. The village head Kasamatsu Satayu, who received the order, tried to learn the techniques in other domains but was refused. So three young men were sent to live in a papermaking village in Yoshino. The young men are said to have married local women who made paper and returned to Aridagawa with the techniques.
History
Kasamatsu Satayu was the first grand village head (ojoya) of 山保田組, and in Meireki 1 (1655) opened a waterway and created the terraced rice fields of 'Aragijima'. During the Manji era (1658–1661), after retiring, Kasamatsu Satayu established the 小峠 district as a papermaking village. Papermaking was women's work that made use of the abundant water and mist, and it was a valuable source of income. Because of the great Kishu Flood of 1953 and the spread of Western-style umbrellas, the craft was on the verge of dying out by around Showa 40 (1965), but in 1979 the craftspeople set out to pass it on.
Features
Yasudagami is characterized by its whiteness and its strength that resists tearing. Kozo bark harvested in January is used as the raw material, and the paper is made with the addition of neri (a viscous liquid taken from the roots of tororo-aoi, sunset hibiscus). The amount of neri is adjusted to the humidity and temperature, and the mix is decided by the craftsperson's experience and feel. Traditional methods are kept from the preparation of the raw material onward, and each sheet has its own character, varying with the temperature, the mix and the force used in papermaking.
Techniques
Mixing the neri
To spread the kozo fibers evenly in the water, 'neri', a viscous liquid taken from the roots of tororo-aoi, is added. Because the right amount changes with humidity and temperature, the mix depends solely on the craftsperson's experience and feel.
Board drying (itaboshi)
The newly made paper is pressed to remove water, and each sheet is brushed onto a wooden drying board and dried in the sun. Controlling the force is difficult: if the brush is too strong, the paper tears, and if it is too weak, the paper does not adhere to the board and shrinks as it dries.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Harvesting kozo and stripping the bark
Kozo is harvested in January, and the bark is stripped and washed. In the Shimizu district, kozo has also been planted on the ridges (aze) between terraced rice fields.
- 2
Exposing and boiling
The bark is exposed to the winter wind and then boiled, and the unneeded parts are carefully removed.
- 3
Kokai (Beating)
The boiled bark is beaten in water to soften it and loosen the fibers.
- 4
Papermaking
The loosened fibers and neri are put into water, and a wooden-framed tool is dipped through it and shaken to spread the fibers evenly.
- 5
Pressing and drying
The newly made paper is pressed to remove water, then brushed onto a wooden drying board and dried in the sun.
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Hands-on Experiences
体験交流工房わらし
和歌山県有田郡有田川町清水1218-1
A workshop where you can try papermaking with Yasudagami. Papermaking costs about 600 yen and takes about 10 minutes. Uchiwa fan making and straw sandal (warazori) making are also offered. Reception closes at 15:00 on the day, and the workshop is closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, national holidays and over the New Year holidays. Because the number of participants is limited, it is best to inquire in advance.
FAQ
Q. Where did the techniques of Yasudagami come from?
A. It is said that Kasamatsu Satayu, acting on the order of Tokugawa Yorinobu, lord of the Kishu Domain, sent young men to live in Yoshino in Nara to learn the techniques. The young men are said to have married women who made paper and returned with the techniques.
Q. Is there any scenery worth seeing near the production area?
A. There are the terraced rice fields of 'Aragijima', which Kasamatsu Satayu created by opening a waterway in 1655. They were selected as one of 'Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields', and the surrounding area was selected as a national Important Cultural Landscape in 2013. Papermaking and the terraced rice fields are connected through the achievements of the same person.
Q. What has Yasudagami been used for?
A. At its peak, paper was made for uses such as umbrellas, folding fans and documents. Its whiteness and strength against tearing were put to good use, but demand fell with the spread of Western-style umbrellas and other changes. Today you can try papermaking at the workshop.