Master papermaker: Tastuo Ichihara
Master Papermaker from Mino, Gifu area: Tastuo Ichihara in his studio:
Still making paper in his late seventies. In this video you can see him making paper with a pattern using the “water shower technique”. A unique pattern is made out of wire and placed above the newly cast paper. Water will be showered over this wire screen onto the paper. The water will leave the imprint on the paper. Once dry these papers will have the look of ‘lace’.
Haba san eyeing Kozo
Keta for the watershower technique
Making Paper
Tastuo Ichihara
Ichihara Studio
A large collection of Keta’s
Tastuo Ichihara
Making Paper
Watershower bed
Making Paper
Kozo -Ichihara Studio
Blot paper and pulp
Maple leaf to be embedded into paper.
Used Keta – Ichihara Studio
Pulp beater – Ichihara Studio
Ichihara Studio
Making large scale Japanese Paper 2
Photo by Takeshi Nagao
I love the Japanese they are so precise and everything is really well planned. It is very important for them that all information are equally distributed to every individual -less margin for error.
If you have not read it yet I have given a short background on large washi paper in my post Making large scale Japanese paper 1. For the Mino Paper Art Residency we were given the opportunity to make large Washi paper that has a similar technique than smaller Washi but without using the Nagashizuki action (swishing the mold back and forth in a set rhythm). Read more about the technique of making washi paper. First the Kozo and Neri is mixed and prepared like usual. We are using a large su and keta that is placed level on a stand. You have to make sure you have drainage underneath your table stand since a lot of water will run through the mold. A pair of Wellingtons is also very helpful!
Large Su bamboo screen.
Stand for Keta, has to be level.
Large Keta (about 1 meter x 2 meter)
An added ingredient that you do not have in making smaller washi paper is that you add a silk screen (treated with Kakishibu that is why it look so black on the photo) between the Su and the paper pulp. Makes the paper denser and easier to peel off the paper from the Su.
Silk attached to the Su screen.
Watch the video for a demonstration in making these larger sheets.
[blip.tv ?posts_id=3093549&dest=-1]
You can get really creative once you have the technique down. You can add textures, colors and here I am adding washi paper inlays.
Anja Marais. Photo by TakeshiNagao
Making large scale Japanese Paper 1.
Anja Marais. Detail of embedded paper in large washi paper
Washi is made from kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata (a plant of the daphne genus) and gampi (another daphne plant). Traditional Japanese paper is known for its strength and quality and because it is handmade each sheets have unique irregularities in thickness and color. The size of Washi in the old days was 1 saku 1 sun (33.3cm) x 8sun (24.4cm) and in Mino another size was 1 shaku x 3sun (39.4cm) x 9 sun (27.3cm). The average size of Washi today is the following:
Shojigami (screens and windows) 63.3 x 93.9cm;
Gasenshi (calligraphy)72.7 x 136.5 cm;
Hoshoshi (High grade official documents)39.4 x 53.0 cm;
Udagami (mounting paper)31.8 x 45.5 cm
I made large sheets of Washi that is 3 x 6ban (97.0 x 188cm). The difference between making the large sheets and the small sheets is the size of the mold. The large paper use a pour technique (similar to European style) instead of “Nagashizuki” (swishing water over a woven bamboo tray)
In Japan today you find artists likeHoriki Eriko that makes large scale paper for interiors and calls it “Architecture Washi” that can measure up to 10 meters for one sheet. Her technique is secret with patent protection and one can just wonder how she are able to control the size and consistent quality of her paper. Check out her website. In the next post I will show the technique in making large scale Washi paper.
Horiki Eriko – Large washi paper
Horiki Eriko – Detail, Large washi paper
Horiki Eriko – Large washi paper
Please continue to the second part of making large Japanese Paper 2 with photos of the process and a Video.
Welcome to Mino, Japan.
Udatsu architecture in Mino City
Our first day was orientation where we were introduced to the program members and volunteers. We were also given a tour of Mino city, it’s beautiful Udatsu Architecture, historical Merchant houses and local temples.
[blip.tv ?posts_id=3021630&dest=-1] Here is a short video of one of the Cultural programs we where participating in. We were learning more about Japanese Culture at a 19th Century farmhouse were they still practice ancient Japanese crafts like handmade paper, Umbrella making, basketry and more.
[blip.tv ?posts_id=2984957&dest=-1] This was a great opportunity to get more knowledge regarding papermaking and to immerse yourself in the culture of Japan.
