A Trip to Ogawamachi: Traditional Paper Making

Amano san showed us how to make washi, Japanese paper.

she does this three times to make a piece of paper.

a piece of paper is now made.  you can do this yourself, she says.

Chiho san and me
At Saitama Dento Kougei Museum at Ogawamachi

the home for Japanese papers

the room to make washi 

he is pressing wet papers one by one.

we can make something like these.  washi is very light.

Amano Miho san showed just two of us how to make a paper.
What a coincidence!  Yes, we share the same last name.  Maybe, we are related.

I asked her if her hands have gotten rough doing this daily.  She said no, on the contrary.
Her hands looked smooth and shining.

http://www.precious-piece.com/aboutwashi/washi_making.pdf

Haruko Yoshimura and Japanese Silk Dye

Last Sunday, I made a visit to the Yoshimura Haruko Silk Dye Exhibit at Saitama Dento Kogei Kaikan in Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture.  It took three hours by train and bus from Yokohama, but it was well worth it.

This is a close up to one section.

I have blogged before about my ancestor of my grandmother's side.  They had the red dye business for four generations in Takasaki city in Gunma prefecture, but the business went down.  But Haruko san who is my mother's cousin has restored the dye technique by using old wooden boards with patterns.  At the same time, she has integrated all the techniques she has learned and created her own art.  I was surprised to see her modern arts because I expected more traditional way.  But I did see some remnants of the traditional silk dye which I miss very much.  I’ll show you that later on.  Meantime, I hope you enjoy her show.    

The exhibit will last until May 13^th.


I just found this site.  You'll see a photo of my great grandfather Heishichi Yoshimura.
I appreciate the authors for this.  It is excellent!  
 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=tsaconf