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During my recent trip to Japan, I gifted woven paper threads wrapped around stones and driftwood to several shifu weavers and a papermaker. They consistently impressed me with their warmth and kindness, as well as their willingness to generously share their craft. These simple weavings served as a small token of my appreciation for them.

#paperthread #papercloth #stoneweaving #driftwoodweaving #natureweaving

During my recent trip to Japan, I gifted woven paper threads wrapped around stones and driftwood to several shifu weavers and a papermaker. They consistently impressed me with their warmth and kindness, as well as their willingness to generously share their craft. These simple weavings served as a small token of my appreciation for them.

#paperthread #papercloth #stoneweaving #driftwoodweaving #natureweaving

I feel much admiration for the craftspeople I met during my recent trip to Japan. I acquired some keepsakes, and my teahouse is now home to three beautiful pieces.

Draped over the wheel of a Japanese spinning wheel is a very fine 2 mm all-paper cloth flower weaving woven by shifu weaver Naoco Senoo @naocosenoo. This weaving is similar to a silk and paper cloth Ms. Senoo makes for the collar of a kimono. The shifu paper used in the weaving was made by papermaker Daisuke Kikuchi.

Towards the end of my trip, I met Miyuki Hamasaki @pofo.jp at Loww Gallery in Tokyo. She creates bags made from Mino washi using a traditional knitting technique that dates back to the Jomon period. The bag displayed in the teahouse features a subtle grey and white random pattern, with the grey color derived from binchotan charcoal. This type of charcoal is used to boil water in a hibachi during a Japanese tea ceremony.

Another artist who exhibited at Loww Gallery, Janice Wong @janicewongstudio, performed an informal Chinese tea ceremony known as Gong Fu Cha, which translates to “making tea with skill.” She served tea in a variety of small porcelain cups that she had crafted herself. The cup I enjoyed my tea from is now sitting on the frame of a gong that my husband made several years ago.

I feel much admiration for the craftspeople I met during my recent trip to Japan. I acquired some keepsakes, and my teahouse is now home to three beautiful pieces.

Draped over the wheel of a Japanese spinning wheel is a very fine 2 mm all-paper cloth flower weaving woven by shifu weaver Naoco Senoo @naocosenoo. This weaving is similar to a silk and paper cloth Ms. Senoo makes for the collar of a kimono. The shifu paper used in the weaving was made by papermaker Daisuke Kikuchi.

Towards the end of my trip, I met Miyuki Hamasaki @pofo.jp at Loww Gallery in Tokyo. She creates bags made from Mino washi using a traditional knitting technique that dates back to the Jomon period. The bag displayed in the teahouse features a subtle grey and white random pattern, with the grey color derived from binchotan charcoal. This type of charcoal is used to boil water in a hibachi during a Japanese tea ceremony.

Another artist who exhibited at Loww Gallery, Janice Wong @janicewongstudio, performed an informal Chinese tea ceremony known as Gong Fu Cha, which translates to “making tea with skill.” She served tea in a variety of small porcelain cups that she had crafted herself. The cup I enjoyed my tea from is now sitting on the frame of a gong that my husband made several years ago.

Takayuki Ishii and his wife, Tomo Ishii @awonoyoh live in an old Japanese house, along with several indigo vats. Takayuki is one of the few remaining producers of indigo in Japan. He creates his designs on cloth using various techniques, including katazome and shibori and then dyes them with indigo.

Sachi Niebler @sabrinasachiko and I brought paper threads to Takayuki and Tomo’s place to dye them with indigo. Takayuki showed us how to strengthen the threads using konjac (konnyaku) before dyeing them. Once ready, some threads were dyed just three times to achieve a lighter indigo blue, while others were dyed longer to obtain a darker indigo blue.

Takayuki also prepared two large square cloths for Sachi and me to create a simple shibori stitch pattern. After stitching, the pieces were tightened, knotted, and then dyed in the indigo vat eight times before being rinsed and hung to dry.

Both Takayuki and Tomo give workshops and two visitors, Debra Ketchum Jircik @circleoflifestudio and Jeanne Debbink @jeannedebbink, were there learning to hand sew a coat being taught by Tomo.

Many thanks to Takayuki and Tomo for their fine hospitality and for being such gracious hosts.

Takayuki Ishii and his wife, Tomo Ishii @awonoyoh live in an old Japanese house, along with several indigo vats. Takayuki is one of the few remaining producers of indigo in Japan. He creates his designs on cloth using various techniques, including katazome and shibori and then dyes them with indigo.

Sachi Niebler @sabrinasachiko and I brought paper threads to Takayuki and Tomo’s place to dye them with indigo. Takayuki showed us how to strengthen the threads using konjac (konnyaku) before dyeing them. Once ready, some threads were dyed just three times to achieve a lighter indigo blue, while others were dyed longer to obtain a darker indigo blue.

Takayuki also prepared two large square cloths for Sachi and me to create a simple shibori stitch pattern. After stitching, the pieces were tightened, knotted, and then dyed in the indigo vat eight times before being rinsed and hung to dry.

Both Takayuki and Tomo give workshops and two visitors, Debra Ketchum Jircik @circleoflifestudio and Jeanne Debbink @jeannedebbink, were there learning to hand sew a coat being taught by Tomo.

Many thanks to Takayuki and Tomo for their fine hospitality and for being such gracious hosts.

One of the main reasons for traveling to Yamagata Prefecture was to visit the Chido Museum, located near the Dewa Sanzan mountain range in the city of Tsuruoka. The museum’s exhibits of the local culture are shown in various buildings that have either been constructed on-site or relocated to its grounds.

On display is shifu, also known as orokogi (paper-rolled kimono), inside a three-story thatched-roof farmhouse. I saw the same backstrap loom used for weaving orokogi during my visit to the museum in the early 1990s, as well as a knee-length coat, woven with a cotton warp and recycled paper for the weft.

The museum is mentioned in my book A Song of Praise for Shifu, along with photos I had taken of the backstrap loom and orokogi coat. The person I met so many years ago who showed me the orokogi is still working at the museum, and I was happy to give him a copy of my book.

One of the main reasons for traveling to Yamagata Prefecture was to visit the Chido Museum, located near the Dewa Sanzan mountain range in the city of Tsuruoka. The museum’s exhibits of the local culture are shown in various buildings that have either been constructed on-site or relocated to its grounds.

On display is shifu, also known as orokogi (paper-rolled kimono), inside a three-story thatched-roof farmhouse. I saw the same backstrap loom used for weaving orokogi during my visit to the museum in the early 1990s, as well as a knee-length coat, woven with a cotton warp and recycled paper for the weft.

The museum is mentioned in my book A Song of Praise for Shifu, along with photos I had taken of the backstrap loom and orokogi coat. The person I met so many years ago who showed me the orokogi is still working at the museum, and I was happy to give him a copy of my book.

The surrounding area of a sacred mountain was where shifu called orokogi was woven for everyday clothes. Mount Haguro in Yamagata Pref. is one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa (Dewa Sanzan). It is the first and last stop on a pilgrimage of spiritual enlightenment and rebirth.

Centuries ago, millions of pilgrims made the journey annually. The pilgrimage starts at the red gate (Zuishinmon). Towering cedars line a stairway, along with shrines and temples. Near the entrance, a five-story pagoda was constructed with no nails or paint. The mountain, 414 meters (1,358 feet) high, features 2,446 stone steps laid in the 1600s. There are 33 carvings on the stone steps, and a person’s every wish can be fulfilled if all are found. Halfway up the mountain, a teahouse serves mochi sweets and tea, making it an ideal rest stop. The view from the teahouse overlooks the Shonai Plain, which faces the Sea of Japan, and orokogi was woven in the coastal area called Shonai-hama.

A shrine adorned with red ribbons and coins is dedicated to the god of the earth, love and fertility. Many people tie ribbons and coins to the grid-covered opening, offering a prayer in hopes of achieving love and good childbirth. At another shrine, a variety of footwear, including Japanese geta, line the shrine’s steps. Visitors pray for safe travels. On top of Mt. Haguro, prayer is heard hourly during the day at the Dewa Sanzan Shrine (Sanjin Gosaiden). The shrine has an impressive thatched roof that is the thickest in Japan.

Shukubo lodging is available in Toge, a township at the base of Mt. Haguro. At its peak, 300 of the 400 households offered lodging, but fewer than 30 lodges remain today. Daishinbo is a pilgrim’s lodge run by a 17th-generation Shukubo Daishinbo master, Haguro Yamabushi. The lodge serves breakfast and dinner featuring mountain vegetables, and guests can participate in a morning prayer ritual at the main hall’s altar.

The surrounding area of a sacred mountain was where shifu called orokogi was woven for everyday clothes. Mount Haguro in Yamagata Pref. is one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa (Dewa Sanzan). It is the first and last stop on a pilgrimage of spiritual enlightenment and rebirth.

Centuries ago, millions of pilgrims made the journey annually. The pilgrimage starts at the red gate (Zuishinmon). Towering cedars line a stairway, along with shrines and temples. Near the entrance, a five-story pagoda was constructed with no nails or paint. The mountain, 414 meters (1,358 feet) high, features 2,446 stone steps laid in the 1600s. There are 33 carvings on the stone steps, and a person’s every wish can be fulfilled if all are found. Halfway up the mountain, a teahouse serves mochi sweets and tea, making it an ideal rest stop. The view from the teahouse overlooks the Shonai Plain, which faces the Sea of Japan, and orokogi was woven in the coastal area called Shonai-hama.

A shrine adorned with red ribbons and coins is dedicated to the god of the earth, love and fertility. Many people tie ribbons and coins to the grid-covered opening, offering a prayer in hopes of achieving love and good childbirth. At another shrine, a variety of footwear, including Japanese geta, line the shrine’s steps. Visitors pray for safe travels. On top of Mt. Haguro, prayer is heard hourly during the day at the Dewa Sanzan Shrine (Sanjin Gosaiden). The shrine has an impressive thatched roof that is the thickest in Japan.

Shukubo lodging is available in Toge, a township at the base of Mt. Haguro. At its peak, 300 of the 400 households offered lodging, but fewer than 30 lodges remain today. Daishinbo is a pilgrim’s lodge run by a 17th-generation Shukubo Daishinbo master, Haguro Yamabushi. The lodge serves breakfast and dinner featuring mountain vegetables, and guests can participate in a morning prayer ritual at the main hall’s altar.

Follow-up from the last post…
Nobumitsu Katakura’s original book about Shiroishi shifu, which was viewed at the merchant house Sumaru Yashiki, was reprinted in 1942. The book includes a sample of Shiroishi shifu paper and Shiroishi shifu woven with a silk warp and a paper weft. The content of this book was later compiled into another book authored by Mr. Katakura, titled Shiroishi Washi, Shifu and Kamiko. In the book, there is a diagram outlining the lengthy process of Shiroishi shifu production. It starts with papermaking, followed by the shifu process and ends with sales. Below are the steps involved in making kami-ito and shifu.

Shifu Process
1. Cutting paper (specialist)
2. Crumpling paper until soft (specialist)
3. Twisting paper at the joint (all samurai)
4. 1st twist of thread on a spinning wheel (specialist)
5. Dyeing (professional dyer)
6. 2nd twisting of thread on a spinning wheel (specialist)
7. Weaving (all samurai)
8. Washing cloth in the river (specialist)
The complete English translation of the Shiroishi shifu production is in A Song of Praise for Shifu.

Another place of interest is the Mochizuri Kannon Temple, located in Mojizuri, which was formerly known as Shinobu village. This temple is on the outskirts of Fukushima City, about an hour’s drive from Shiroishi. The area is historically famous for a unique print pattern known as Shinobu mojizuri. A large boulder-sized stone was notably used as the surface for rubbing a fern called Shinobu onto a piece of cloth. This stone, which is located on the grounds of the sacred temple, is referred to as the Shinobu Mojizuri Stone, also known as the mottling stone or pattern-pressing stone. Matsuo Basho visited the site and wrote about the stone in one of his most famous travelogues. Similarly, shifu was also placed on top of a textured stone that resembled the Shinobu Mojizuri Stone and was rubbed to transfer the stone’s surface pattern onto the cloth.

Follow-up from the last post…
Nobumitsu Katakura’s original book about Shiroishi shifu, which was viewed at the merchant house Sumaru Yashiki, was reprinted in 1942. The book includes a sample of Shiroishi shifu paper and Shiroishi shifu woven with a silk warp and a paper weft. The content of this book was later compiled into another book authored by Mr. Katakura, titled Shiroishi Washi, Shifu and Kamiko. In the book, there is a diagram outlining the lengthy process of Shiroishi shifu production. It starts with papermaking, followed by the shifu process and ends with sales. Below are the steps involved in making kami-ito and shifu.

Shifu Process
1. Cutting paper (specialist)
2. Crumpling paper until soft (specialist)
3. Twisting paper at the joint (all samurai)
4. 1st twist of thread on a spinning wheel (specialist)
5. Dyeing (professional dyer)
6. 2nd twisting of thread on a spinning wheel (specialist)
7. Weaving (all samurai)
8. Washing cloth in the river (specialist)
The complete English translation of the Shiroishi shifu production is in A Song of Praise for Shifu.

Another place of interest is the Mochizuri Kannon Temple, located in Mojizuri, which was formerly known as Shinobu village. This temple is on the outskirts of Fukushima City, about an hour’s drive from Shiroishi. The area is historically famous for a unique print pattern known as Shinobu mojizuri. A large boulder-sized stone was notably used as the surface for rubbing a fern called Shinobu onto a piece of cloth. This stone, which is located on the grounds of the sacred temple, is referred to as the Shinobu Mojizuri Stone, also known as the mottling stone or pattern-pressing stone. Matsuo Basho visited the site and wrote about the stone in one of his most famous travelogues. Similarly, shifu was also placed on top of a textured stone that resembled the Shinobu Mojizuri Stone and was rubbed to transfer the stone’s surface pattern onto the cloth.

Shiroishi City, situated in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, is historically renowned for its finely woven paper cloth, known as Shiroishi shifu. This unique cloth developed into a small cottage industry during the Edo and Meiji periods, under the guidance of the Katakura clan, who lived in Shiroishi Castle (images 1-3). Although the castle was dismantled in 1875, its main keep, several gates, and stone walls were reconstructed in 1995. The burial place of several generations of the Katakura castle lord is located at the base of Mt. Atago in the outskirts of Shiroishi City (image 4) and is said to be visible from the castle.

A merchant house in Shiroishi, known as Sumaru Yashiki (image 5), is open to the public. Craft representative Keiji Abe and artist-in-residence Kioca Nagai @_long_nagai_ were kind enough to spend time together. Mr. Abe shared information about the paper he creates, along with others who are part of a washi group called Kurofuto. Local torafu paper mulberry fibers are used to make a traditional smaller sized paper, which measures 53 cm by 38 cm. There were several items on display (images 6-8) related to the production of paper thread. This included a raised wooden cutting board and a wooden straight edge used to cut the paper into 2-3 mm strips. Additionally, a river stone known as a jakkeishi, which translates to “pockmarked face,” was historically used to roll the thin, damp paper strips. There was also a bundle of spun paper paired with Shiroishi shifu, along with a small book about Shiroishi shifu written by the late Nobumitsu Katakura. He, along with several others, played a crucial role in reviving Shiroishi shifu beginning in the late 1930s.

Shiroishi City, situated in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, is historically renowned for its finely woven paper cloth, known as Shiroishi shifu. This unique cloth developed into a small cottage industry during the Edo and Meiji periods, under the guidance of the Katakura clan, who lived in Shiroishi Castle (images 1-3). Although the castle was dismantled in 1875, its main keep, several gates, and stone walls were reconstructed in 1995. The burial place of several generations of the Katakura castle lord is located at the base of Mt. Atago in the outskirts of Shiroishi City (image 4) and is said to be visible from the castle.

A merchant house in Shiroishi, known as Sumaru Yashiki (image 5), is open to the public. Craft representative Keiji Abe and artist-in-residence Kioca Nagai @_long_nagai_ were kind enough to spend time together. Mr. Abe shared information about the paper he creates, along with others who are part of a washi group called Kurofuto. Local torafu paper mulberry fibers are used to make a traditional smaller sized paper, which measures 53 cm by 38 cm. There were several items on display (images 6-8) related to the production of paper thread. This included a raised wooden cutting board and a wooden straight edge used to cut the paper into 2-3 mm strips. Additionally, a river stone known as a jakkeishi, which translates to “pockmarked face,” was historically used to roll the thin, damp paper strips. There was also a bundle of spun paper paired with Shiroishi shifu, along with a small book about Shiroishi shifu written by the late Nobumitsu Katakura. He, along with several others, played a crucial role in reviving Shiroishi shifu beginning in the late 1930s.

I recently returned from a trip to Japan. Shifu weaver Sachi Niebler @sabrinasachiko joined me and together we met several shifu weavers.

Image 1 - I am sitting with shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai, along with Sachi, and our friend Noriko Sasaki @sasa.nori3. Mrs. Sakurai’s shifu includes a double-weave silk and paper cloth, an all-paper cloth featuring an Okinawan stencil design, and another all-paper cloth with a vertical stripe pattern.

Image 2 - Shifu weaver Kazuko Sato is wearing a shifu jacket. She showed us her crepe-woven kimono, which resembles the Shiroishi crepe paper cloth woven in Shiroishi hundreds of years ago. This type of cloth, called chirimen shifu, is made with a very fine silk warp and a paper weft (top left image). We also saw an undyed, all-paper summer robe (see detail) and she shared examples of patterned shifu weaves. The pattern shown is of a lightning design (inazuma).

Image 3 - Yasuko Shimada and her daughter, Natsumi Yoshihara. Mrs. Shimada learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai and wove shifu for many years. Later, she and her daughter formed Team Y’s; producing the nonwoven paper cloth called kamiko. The checkered pattern and the vest with sashiko stitching on the collar are shifu, while the bottom right image displays several kamiko obis.

Image 4 - Shifu weaver Kazuyo Kajiyama demonstrates how to tie paper threads for the ikat tie-dyeing technique, known as kasuri in Japan. Ms. Kajiyama’s shifu shows a variety of patterned weaves and ikat techniques. The weaving on the left side of the image is currently on display at the KOKUTEN Autumn Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

Image 5 - Shifu weaver Naoco Senoo @naocosenoo is holding one of her indigo-dyed silk and paper kimonos. She learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai and she currently lives in a traditional Japanese house in the countryside where she makes both washi and shifu. During our visit, Naoco showed us several bolts of her shifu. The ones in the image are all-paper cloth and woven in various patterns.

I recently returned from a trip to Japan. Shifu weaver Sachi Niebler @sabrinasachiko joined me and together we met several shifu weavers.

Image 1 - I am sitting with shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai, along with Sachi, and our friend Noriko Sasaki @sasa.nori3. Mrs. Sakurai’s shifu includes a double-weave silk and paper cloth, an all-paper cloth featuring an Okinawan stencil design, and another all-paper cloth with a vertical stripe pattern.

Image 2 - Shifu weaver Kazuko Sato is wearing a shifu jacket. She showed us her crepe-woven kimono, which resembles the Shiroishi crepe paper cloth woven in Shiroishi hundreds of years ago. This type of cloth, called chirimen shifu, is made with a very fine silk warp and a paper weft (top left image). We also saw an undyed, all-paper summer robe (see detail) and she shared examples of patterned shifu weaves. The pattern shown is of a lightning design (inazuma).

Image 3 - Yasuko Shimada and her daughter, Natsumi Yoshihara. Mrs. Shimada learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai and wove shifu for many years. Later, she and her daughter formed Team Y’s; producing the nonwoven paper cloth called kamiko. The checkered pattern and the vest with sashiko stitching on the collar are shifu, while the bottom right image displays several kamiko obis.

Image 4 - Shifu weaver Kazuyo Kajiyama demonstrates how to tie paper threads for the ikat tie-dyeing technique, known as kasuri in Japan. Ms. Kajiyama’s shifu shows a variety of patterned weaves and ikat techniques. The weaving on the left side of the image is currently on display at the KOKUTEN Autumn Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

Image 5 - Shifu weaver Naoco Senoo @naocosenoo is holding one of her indigo-dyed silk and paper kimonos. She learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai and she currently lives in a traditional Japanese house in the countryside where she makes both washi and shifu. During our visit, Naoco showed us several bolts of her shifu. The ones in the image are all-paper cloth and woven in various patterns.

Spinning paper thread on a beautiful sun-filled morning. #spinning #paperthread #kamiito #spinningwheel #itoguruma #teahouse #shifu

Spinning paper thread on a beautiful sun-filled morning. #spinning #paperthread #kamiito #spinningwheel #itoguruma #teahouse #shifu

As night fell, the lanterns were lit to light the pathway leading to the tea house.

A pair of Ashimoto andon (tea ceremony foot lanterns) sit on the tea house veranda. They are typically used to illuminate the ground at night for tea ceremony guests. At one time, the two lanterns were covered with shoji-gami, a type of white paper used for shoji paper screens. The paper was later replaced with recycled pages from a merchant’s account book. Next to one of the lanterns (third image) is a paper cloth woven with threads made from recycled paper. Music: Seki No Oiwake by Paul Kikuchi.
#lantern #footlantern #andon #teahouse #engawa #teaceremony #recycledpapers #paperthread #shifu

As night fell, the lanterns were lit to light the pathway leading to the tea house.

A pair of Ashimoto andon (tea ceremony foot lanterns) sit on the tea house veranda. They are typically used to illuminate the ground at night for tea ceremony guests. At one time, the two lanterns were covered with shoji-gami, a type of white paper used for shoji paper screens. The paper was later replaced with recycled pages from a merchant’s account book. Next to one of the lanterns (third image) is a paper cloth woven with threads made from recycled paper. Music: Seki No Oiwake by Paul Kikuchi.
#lantern #footlantern #andon #teahouse #engawa #teaceremony #recycledpapers #paperthread #shifu

This is the woven paper temple cloth I saw during a visit to @shibuikotto and shared in a fairly recent post. I can only imagine how beautiful the cloth looked hanging as a curtain in a temple. I was excited to see it hung, but only once I secured several thin paper strips that had become loose due to many years of wear and tear (the before and after look can be seen in images #3 & #4). However, finding a good spot to hang it posed a bit of a challenge due to it being almost thirteen feet wide. Nonetheless, I resolved the dilemma by simply gathering the cloth and hanging it under the eaves of my tea house.

In the first image, above the hanging cloth, is a Japanese temple bell. This bell is very similar to a temple bell that was in the possession of the Katakura clan who resided in the castle town of Shiroishi during the Edo period. The black hanging temple bell became a motif for the Katakura’s large battle flag, known as a “great standard”, and the bell continues to be the city emblem today. Shiroishi was also once widely known as a manufacturing center for the highly prized woven paper cloth called Shiroishi shifu. Many years ago I saw the bell design stenciled onto shifu at the Sendai City Museum and a photo of it is in my book A Song of Praise for Shifu.

#templecloth #shifu #paperstrips #shiroishi #templebell #japanesetemplebell #teahouse

This is the woven paper temple cloth I saw during a visit to @shibuikotto and shared in a fairly recent post. I can only imagine how beautiful the cloth looked hanging as a curtain in a temple. I was excited to see it hung, but only once I secured several thin paper strips that had become loose due to many years of wear and tear (the before and after look can be seen in images #3 & #4). However, finding a good spot to hang it posed a bit of a challenge due to it being almost thirteen feet wide. Nonetheless, I resolved the dilemma by simply gathering the cloth and hanging it under the eaves of my tea house.

In the first image, above the hanging cloth, is a Japanese temple bell. This bell is very similar to a temple bell that was in the possession of the Katakura clan who resided in the castle town of Shiroishi during the Edo period. The black hanging temple bell became a motif for the Katakura’s large battle flag, known as a “great standard”, and the bell continues to be the city emblem today. Shiroishi was also once widely known as a manufacturing center for the highly prized woven paper cloth called Shiroishi shifu. Many years ago I saw the bell design stenciled onto shifu at the Sendai City Museum and a photo of it is in my book A Song of Praise for Shifu.

#templecloth #shifu #paperstrips #shiroishi #templebell #japanesetemplebell #teahouse

A large tea bowl sits on the bamboo floor of the tea house…

The tea bowl was molded from kozo paper pulp and tea leaves, lined with stained teabags on the inside, and coiled paper threads filled the void. The outside was coated with a dark hue of persimmon tannin and a few printed inspirational quotes, as can be seen in the last image.

#teahouse #teabowl #tea #kozopaper #kozopulp #teabags #tealeaves #paperthread #spunpaper

A large tea bowl sits on the bamboo floor of the tea house…

The tea bowl was molded from kozo paper pulp and tea leaves, lined with stained teabags on the inside, and coiled paper threads filled the void. The outside was coated with a dark hue of persimmon tannin and a few printed inspirational quotes, as can be seen in the last image.

#teahouse #teabowl #tea #kozopaper #kozopulp #teabags #tealeaves #paperthread #spunpaper

Feeling lucky to have seen Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper. It is an awe-inspiring traveling exhibition featuring nine artists. Shown here are works by four of the artists. The first image is the cover of the book about the artists and their work in the exhibit. Image #2 includes several wall pieces by Yuko Kimura @maguyuko, and a closer look at Yuko’s piece titled ‘Shiwa Shiwa’ (image #3) shows cut paper strips. One of several sculptural pieces titled ‘Musubu W1’ by Kakuko Ishii (image #4) and another one of Kakuko’s sculptural pieces titled ‘Musubu R’ (image #5) used paper cords called mizuhiki to create the intricately tied sculptures. ‘Musical Score/les Lotus jamais fane’ by Hina Aoyama (image #6) was cut using only a pair of scissors and nineteen sheets of paper created ‘Hanging Sail’ by Kyoko Ibe (image #7).

Thanks to Linda @washiarts and Jennifer @kennardz for inviting me to see the exhibit together. I had a wonderful time.

#washitransformed #washi #japanesepaperart #paperthread #mizuhiki #papercord #papercutart

Feeling lucky to have seen Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper. It is an awe-inspiring traveling exhibition featuring nine artists. Shown here are works by four of the artists. The first image is the cover of the book about the artists and their work in the exhibit. Image #2 includes several wall pieces by Yuko Kimura @maguyuko, and a closer look at Yuko’s piece titled ‘Shiwa Shiwa’ (image #3) shows cut paper strips. One of several sculptural pieces titled ‘Musubu W1’ by Kakuko Ishii (image #4) and another one of Kakuko’s sculptural pieces titled ‘Musubu R’ (image #5) used paper cords called mizuhiki to create the intricately tied sculptures. ‘Musical Score/les Lotus jamais fane’ by Hina Aoyama (image #6) was cut using only a pair of scissors and nineteen sheets of paper created ‘Hanging Sail’ by Kyoko Ibe (image #7).

Thanks to Linda @washiarts and Jennifer @kennardz for inviting me to see the exhibit together. I had a wonderful time.

#washitransformed #washi #japanesepaperart #paperthread #mizuhiki #papercord #papercutart

The owner of Shibui Antiques & Vintage @shibuikotto showed me a two-volume book with Japanese paper samples, and I recognized the kanji characters when I saw the book’s title. It turned out to be an original copy of the book Shiroishi Gami by Shin’ichi Kanno (a native of Shiroishi City), and it was published in 1964. I knew about that book from my research on Shiroishi shifu.

The first volume covers the history and techniques of papermaking in Shiroishi and there is a foreword and short translation in English written by Bunsho Jugaku who is considered to be one of the leading authorities on traditional Japanese papermaking.

The second volume has 175 different samples of Japanese papers from Shiroishi, and it includes a sample of shifu paper (bottom paper in image #3). Above the shifu paper is a sample of kamiko paper. Image #4 is also the shifu paper. There is shifu dyed with walnuts (image #5), and underneath that sample is kamiko paper dyed with walnuts. The shifu paper and the dyed kamiko paper have the word “Takanosu” (a district in Shiroishi) printed in kanji characters below each paper on the right side. Papermaker Tadao Endo and his wife Mashiko Endo (shifu weaver) were from Takanosu.

In the late 1930s, Tadao Endo, Nobumitsu Katakura and Chutaro Sato set out to revive Shiroishi shifu, and Mr. Endo made the shifu paper called Zao shifugami. In an appendix to Shiroishi Gami, Shin’ichi Kanno wrote (in English) about joining the movement. The Oshu Shiroishi Local Industrial Art Research Institute was established and Mr. Kanno helped by starting a shifu manufacturing plant. It was in operation for several years, but he had to eventually close the plant due to financial difficulties.

#shiroishi #shifu #shifupaper #kamikopaper #handmadepapers #walnutdyes

The owner of Shibui Antiques & Vintage @shibuikotto showed me a two-volume book with Japanese paper samples, and I recognized the kanji characters when I saw the book’s title. It turned out to be an original copy of the book Shiroishi Gami by Shin’ichi Kanno (a native of Shiroishi City), and it was published in 1964. I knew about that book from my research on Shiroishi shifu.

The first volume covers the history and techniques of papermaking in Shiroishi and there is a foreword and short translation in English written by Bunsho Jugaku who is considered to be one of the leading authorities on traditional Japanese papermaking.

The second volume has 175 different samples of Japanese papers from Shiroishi, and it includes a sample of shifu paper (bottom paper in image #3). Above the shifu paper is a sample of kamiko paper. Image #4 is also the shifu paper. There is shifu dyed with walnuts (image #5), and underneath that sample is kamiko paper dyed with walnuts. The shifu paper and the dyed kamiko paper have the word “Takanosu” (a district in Shiroishi) printed in kanji characters below each paper on the right side. Papermaker Tadao Endo and his wife Mashiko Endo (shifu weaver) were from Takanosu.

In the late 1930s, Tadao Endo, Nobumitsu Katakura and Chutaro Sato set out to revive Shiroishi shifu, and Mr. Endo made the shifu paper called Zao shifugami. In an appendix to Shiroishi Gami, Shin’ichi Kanno wrote (in English) about joining the movement. The Oshu Shiroishi Local Industrial Art Research Institute was established and Mr. Kanno helped by starting a shifu manufacturing plant. It was in operation for several years, but he had to eventually close the plant due to financial difficulties.

#shiroishi #shifu #shifupaper #kamikopaper #handmadepapers #walnutdyes

Shibui Japanese Antiques and Vintage @shibuikotto has been in business for twenty-eight years and during that time the owner has acquired an amazing assortment of Japanese textiles. I found myself completely overwhelmed by the vast inventory, and it felt like I could have spent many days there and not seen everything.

My focus was on anything about or related to shifu, especially since my time there was limited. Two paper textiles shown to me were once used as hanging Temple cloths, and they date back to the Meiji period. Images #2 and #3 show a closeup of one of the two cloths. It was woven with a silk warp and a flat paper weft coated with silver, and the design is of a cloud and diamond pattern. This woven paper textile has a striking resemblance to another paper textile called Saganishiki - a special kind of brocade cloth woven with a paper warp coated with either gold, silver or lacquer and a silk weft.

There were also a few shifu hanhaba obi (half-width sash) for casual wear. One example, seen in images #4 & #5, was woven with a rayon warp and the same fine rayon thread wrapped around a paper weft thread. Not only did the rayon help to strengthen the paper, but it created a denser tabby weave that can be best seen in the red stripe. An additional design element not seen before as such was the loops of paper thread along one side of the cloth’s selvage.

In my next post, I will share a totally unexpected treasure seen at Shibui.

#shibui #japaneseantiques #japanesevintagefabric #meijiperiod #shifu #saganishiki #noren #hanhabaobi

Shibui Japanese Antiques and Vintage @shibuikotto has been in business for twenty-eight years and during that time the owner has acquired an amazing assortment of Japanese textiles. I found myself completely overwhelmed by the vast inventory, and it felt like I could have spent many days there and not seen everything.

My focus was on anything about or related to shifu, especially since my time there was limited. Two paper textiles shown to me were once used as hanging Temple cloths, and they date back to the Meiji period. Images #2 and #3 show a closeup of one of the two cloths. It was woven with a silk warp and a flat paper weft coated with silver, and the design is of a cloud and diamond pattern. This woven paper textile has a striking resemblance to another paper textile called Saganishiki - a special kind of brocade cloth woven with a paper warp coated with either gold, silver or lacquer and a silk weft.

There were also a few shifu hanhaba obi (half-width sash) for casual wear. One example, seen in images #4 & #5, was woven with a rayon warp and the same fine rayon thread wrapped around a paper weft thread. Not only did the rayon help to strengthen the paper, but it created a denser tabby weave that can be best seen in the red stripe. An additional design element not seen before as such was the loops of paper thread along one side of the cloth’s selvage.

In my next post, I will share a totally unexpected treasure seen at Shibui.

#shibui #japaneseantiques #japanesevintagefabric #meijiperiod #shifu #saganishiki #noren #hanhabaobi

I recently returned home from a short trip to Southern California where I got to visit a shop and a warehouse that were on my to-do list of shifu related places - Hiromi Paper and Shibui Japanese Antiques & Vintage.

The first place, Hiromi Paper, sells many different kinds of fine art & conservation papers, including papers made by papermaker Satoshi Hasegawa. A few months ago I posted images of shifu paper made by Mr. Hasegawa. His kozo papers are considered to be of the highest quality and Hiromi Paper carries five different weights ranging from 9, 12, 15, 18, and 30 g/m2.

Hiromi Paper’s Catalogue is available in both print and digital. It is a good resource for their products, and it includes information about Japanese papermaking and where their papers come from. The beautiful catalogue cover paper was provided by Awagami Factory.

#hiromipaperinc #japanesewashipaper #conservationpaper #shifupaper

I recently returned home from a short trip to Southern California where I got to visit a shop and a warehouse that were on my to-do list of shifu related places - Hiromi Paper and Shibui Japanese Antiques & Vintage.

The first place, Hiromi Paper, sells many different kinds of fine art & conservation papers, including papers made by papermaker Satoshi Hasegawa. A few months ago I posted images of shifu paper made by Mr. Hasegawa. His kozo papers are considered to be of the highest quality and Hiromi Paper carries five different weights ranging from 9, 12, 15, 18, and 30 g/m2.

Hiromi Paper’s Catalogue is available in both print and digital. It is a good resource for their products, and it includes information about Japanese papermaking and where their papers come from. The beautiful catalogue cover paper was provided by Awagami Factory.

#hiromipaperinc #japanesewashipaper #conservationpaper #shifupaper

I recently acquired a beautifully crafted book titled ‘Washi Memories’ by Eleanor Burkett @ellieburkett_london. It is a wonderful tribute to Kamikawasaki Paper Village, from its past to present, and three prominent papermakers are highlighted in the book.

The process of making Japanese paper is described in detail and illustrated with black and white photos. There are also several paper samples. Two of the papers (see image #2) are thin sheets of Kigami or white kozo papers made by papermaker Koichi Anzai. They are similar to papers Eleanor purchased in the late 1980s for making kami-ito (paper thread), and weavers in Yonezawa City (a famous weaving center about an hour’s drive from Kamikawasaki) wove shifu using papers made by Koichi Anzai and his family.

In 1987, Eleanor studied weaving at Fukushima College in Fukushima City. She was also introduced to paper threadmaking by shifu weaver Kyoko Yamazaki, who lived in Fukushima City. Some of the remaining papers Eleanor purchased from the nearby papermaking village almost forty years ago are still being transformed into a beautiful thread.

#kamikawasaki #kamikawasakiwashi #kigami #kozopaper #paperthread #shifu #oldschoolpress

I recently acquired a beautifully crafted book titled ‘Washi Memories’ by Eleanor Burkett @ellieburkett_london. It is a wonderful tribute to Kamikawasaki Paper Village, from its past to present, and three prominent papermakers are highlighted in the book.

The process of making Japanese paper is described in detail and illustrated with black and white photos. There are also several paper samples. Two of the papers (see image #2) are thin sheets of Kigami or white kozo papers made by papermaker Koichi Anzai. They are similar to papers Eleanor purchased in the late 1980s for making kami-ito (paper thread), and weavers in Yonezawa City (a famous weaving center about an hour’s drive from Kamikawasaki) wove shifu using papers made by Koichi Anzai and his family.

In 1987, Eleanor studied weaving at Fukushima College in Fukushima City. She was also introduced to paper threadmaking by shifu weaver Kyoko Yamazaki, who lived in Fukushima City. Some of the remaining papers Eleanor purchased from the nearby papermaking village almost forty years ago are still being transformed into a beautiful thread.

#kamikawasaki #kamikawasakiwashi #kigami #kozopaper #paperthread #shifu #oldschoolpress

The shades of two black metal wall sconces were recently covered with Japanese shifu paper. The specialty paper is called Nishinouchi shifu yōshi and the papermaker is Daisuke Kikuchi. He is the son of the late papermaker Seiki Kikuchi who started making shifu paper for Sadako Sakurai and other shifu makers as far back as the late ‘70s. The paper is 100% kozo 10g. #shifupaper #kozopaper #wallsconce #teahouse

The shades of two black metal wall sconces were recently covered with Japanese shifu paper. The specialty paper is called Nishinouchi shifu yōshi and the papermaker is Daisuke Kikuchi. He is the son of the late papermaker Seiki Kikuchi who started making shifu paper for Sadako Sakurai and other shifu makers as far back as the late ‘70s. The paper is 100% kozo 10g. #shifupaper #kozopaper #wallsconce #teahouse

These small all paper cloth (morojjfu) weavings were woven on homemade frame looms and mounted on driftwood boards. The finished look reminds me of the Japanese term wabi sabi or beauty that can be found in simplicity and imperfection.

Along with a passion for shifu, I am also passionate about finding creativity with found or recycled objects. Uniting these two passions is something I want to further explore…. letting go and embracing the unknown.

Several different types of papers were used in the weavings.
Image 1 - dyed Japanese kozo papers (upper left). Pattern paper (upper right). Kozo paper (bottom) made by papermaker Elaine Cooper @washiartist.
Image 2 - five different papers (two types of kozo, mitsumata and kozo, mitsumata with suminagashi, and gampi) made by Elaine Cooper.
Image 3 - Nepalese lokta (daphne) paper with printed designs.

#shifupapercloth #morojifu #kamiito #paperthread #kozopaper #mitsumatapaper #gampipaper #loktapaper #patternpaper #foundobjects #recycledart #ecofriendlyart #wabisabiarts

These small all paper cloth (morojjfu) weavings were woven on homemade frame looms and mounted on driftwood boards. The finished look reminds me of the Japanese term wabi sabi or beauty that can be found in simplicity and imperfection.

Along with a passion for shifu, I am also passionate about finding creativity with found or recycled objects. Uniting these two passions is something I want to further explore…. letting go and embracing the unknown.

Several different types of papers were used in the weavings.
Image 1 - dyed Japanese kozo papers (upper left). Pattern paper (upper right). Kozo paper (bottom) made by papermaker Elaine Cooper @washiartist.
Image 2 - five different papers (two types of kozo, mitsumata and kozo, mitsumata with suminagashi, and gampi) made by Elaine Cooper.
Image 3 - Nepalese lokta (daphne) paper with printed designs.

#shifupapercloth #morojifu #kamiito #paperthread #kozopaper #mitsumatapaper #gampipaper #loktapaper #patternpaper #foundobjects #recycledart #ecofriendlyart #wabisabiarts

This vintage indigo-dyed katazome shifu is the same cloth as shown in my recent post of black and white images. Upon close inspection, the undyed paper threads have random ink markings throughout the woven piece. The last image shows a few loose paper threads covered with sumi ink that can be seen along the cut edge of the cloth. #shifupapercloth #menjifu #vintagecloth #recycledpapers #índigo #katazomedesign

This vintage indigo-dyed katazome shifu is the same cloth as shown in my recent post of black and white images. Upon close inspection, the undyed paper threads have random ink markings throughout the woven piece. The last image shows a few loose paper threads covered with sumi ink that can be seen along the cut edge of the cloth. #shifupapercloth #menjifu #vintagecloth #recycledpapers #índigo #katazomedesign

The first snow of winter.

The teahouse awoke
to a flurry of snowflakes;
warm and happy dance.

#teahouse #winter #snow #haiku

The first snow of winter.

The teahouse awoke
to a flurry of snowflakes;
warm and happy dance.

#teahouse #winter #snow #haiku

A display of shadow and light inside the shifu tea house was inspired by the book ‘In Praise of Shadows’ by Junichiro Tanizaki.

The first two images show shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai’s double-weave all paper cloth.

The third image includes a small vintage length of shifu that was once part of a futon cover. The piece was woven with a cotton warp and a paper weft made into a thread using Tosa Washi from Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. The indigo-dyed cloth has a beautiful katazome design of ribbons and paulownia arabesque.

Sitting on top of the paper cloth is a yokan sweet served on a black lacquered dish. There is a passage in Tanizaki’s book where he praises a yokan sweet served on a lacquered dish in a room lit only by the glow of a candle… the sight of which is something to be meditated upon. #teahouse #junichirotanizaki #shadowandlight #shifupapercloth #doubleweave #yokan #blacklacquer

A display of shadow and light inside the shifu tea house was inspired by the book ‘In Praise of Shadows’ by Junichiro Tanizaki.

The first two images show shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai’s double-weave all paper cloth.

The third image includes a small vintage length of shifu that was once part of a futon cover. The piece was woven with a cotton warp and a paper weft made into a thread using Tosa Washi from Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. The indigo-dyed cloth has a beautiful katazome design of ribbons and paulownia arabesque.

Sitting on top of the paper cloth is a yokan sweet served on a black lacquered dish. There is a passage in Tanizaki’s book where he praises a yokan sweet served on a lacquered dish in a room lit only by the glow of a candle… the sight of which is something to be meditated upon. #teahouse #junichirotanizaki #shadowandlight #shifupapercloth #doubleweave #yokan #blacklacquer

Out of the recently added shifu to my tea house I have saved a contemporary shifu weaving to share last. The lovely art piece was woven by textile artist and author Rachna Garodia @rachnagarodia using old sheets of Japanese Noh play script book paper and accented with red silk. The silk was handspun into a yarn by a small company who uses waste fibers to spin their yarns. Rachna’s weaving and the Japanese indigo coat next to her piece complement each other well. Thank you Rachna ❤️ #nohpapercraft #paperthreads #shifupapercloth #wastesilkfibers #teahouse

Out of the recently added shifu to my tea house I have saved a contemporary shifu weaving to share last. The lovely art piece was woven by textile artist and author Rachna Garodia @rachnagarodia using old sheets of Japanese Noh play script book paper and accented with red silk. The silk was handspun into a yarn by a small company who uses waste fibers to spin their yarns. Rachna’s weaving and the Japanese indigo coat next to her piece complement each other well. Thank you Rachna ❤️ #nohpapercraft #paperthreads #shifupapercloth #wastesilkfibers #teahouse

An old length of menjifu (cotton warp and paper weft) thought to be from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century was perhaps once part of a futon cover. The medium indigo blue, brown and off-white warp threads create a bold stripe design and a subtle random kasuri (ikat) like design was woven throughout the weft direction. The black inclusions are from sumi ink writing on paper that was twisted and spun into a tight paper thread. Folk shifu often included such a thread and one readily available source came from recycling used pages of old-fashioned account books called daifukuchō.

Laying on top of the shifu in the first image is a small chawan, matcha tea bowl made by Mikhail Tovstous @potterypark and the sweet is one of the dried persimmons (hoshigaki) that had been hanging from the eaves of the tea house. #shifupapercloth #menjifu #daifukuchō #chawans #hoshigaki

An old length of menjifu (cotton warp and paper weft) thought to be from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century was perhaps once part of a futon cover. The medium indigo blue, brown and off-white warp threads create a bold stripe design and a subtle random kasuri (ikat) like design was woven throughout the weft direction. The black inclusions are from sumi ink writing on paper that was twisted and spun into a tight paper thread. Folk shifu often included such a thread and one readily available source came from recycling used pages of old-fashioned account books called daifukuchō.

Laying on top of the shifu in the first image is a small chawan, matcha tea bowl made by Mikhail Tovstous @potterypark and the sweet is one of the dried persimmons (hoshigaki) that had been hanging from the eaves of the tea house. #shifupapercloth #menjifu #daifukuchō #chawans #hoshigaki

A recent addition to my shifu collection is a menjifu (cotton and paper cloth) farmer’s long coat (similar to the traditional work clothing called noragi worn by farmers). The coat was woven with an indigo-dyed cotton warp and an undyed paper weft. It comes from the cold climate of Northern Japan and dates back somewhere between the late 1800s to early 1900s. In an area called Shōnai-Hama (Shōnai Beach) in Yamagata Prefecture, located in the northern Tohoku region and bordering the Sea of Japan, shifu was called orokogi (paper rolled kimono) and farmers’ coats like the one now hanging in the tea house were woven by the wives and daughters of fishermen and farmers. A similar style coat called a mujirisode (a type of knee-length coat with short sleeves), is in the Chido Museum’s collection located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Pref.

The coat has faded over the many decades of wear and tear, but overall it has retained much of its beautiful indigo color. And, a distinctive random pattern throughout the coat created by white nubs from the paper threads adds to the coat’s uniqueness.

Images #3 & #4 - show a closeup of the faded indigo and the random white nubs. There are also small mended patches.

Image #5 - the mending technique called Japanese boro is shown on the inside of the coat. This example of boro patchwork includes both solid and striped cotton fabrics covering up torn parts of the paper cloth.

Image #6 - a small gift of green tea chocolate and green tea matcha came with the shifu, and they were a welcome treat while sitting and admiring the coat. #noragi #shifupapercloth #paperclothing #boroclothing

A recent addition to my shifu collection is a menjifu (cotton and paper cloth) farmer’s long coat (similar to the traditional work clothing called noragi worn by farmers). The coat was woven with an indigo-dyed cotton warp and an undyed paper weft. It comes from the cold climate of Northern Japan and dates back somewhere between the late 1800s to early 1900s. In an area called Shōnai-Hama (Shōnai Beach) in Yamagata Prefecture, located in the northern Tohoku region and bordering the Sea of Japan, shifu was called orokogi (paper rolled kimono) and farmers’ coats like the one now hanging in the tea house were woven by the wives and daughters of fishermen and farmers. A similar style coat called a mujirisode (a type of knee-length coat with short sleeves), is in the Chido Museum’s collection located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Pref.

The coat has faded over the many decades of wear and tear, but overall it has retained much of its beautiful indigo color. And, a distinctive random pattern throughout the coat created by white nubs from the paper threads adds to the coat’s uniqueness.

Images #3 & #4 - show a closeup of the faded indigo and the random white nubs. There are also small mended patches.

Image #5 - the mending technique called Japanese boro is shown on the inside of the coat. This example of boro patchwork includes both solid and striped cotton fabrics covering up torn parts of the paper cloth.

Image #6 - a small gift of green tea chocolate and green tea matcha came with the shifu, and they were a welcome treat while sitting and admiring the coat. #noragi #shifupapercloth #paperclothing #boroclothing

The thinnest known shifu was woven by House of Piña in the Philippines under the direction of Asao Shimura, miniature book artist and shifu advocate. This fine paper cloth is called liniwan shifu and it is woven with a warp of fine piña liniwan thread and a weft of 1.5mm piña paper thread. The weight of the paper, weighing only 4-5g, is what makes the paper thread extra thin. Shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai is the only other person I know of who has woven with 1.5mm paper thread. The shifu paper she uses, although very thin too, weighs 9-10g.

Liniwan fiber is the second of two layers from the leaves of the pineapple plant. The fiber is the finest of the two layers with an ivory-white color and it is used to weave the traditional piña cloth in the Philippines.

Since I only have a very small piece of liniwan shifu I wasn’t sure where to place it in the tea house. I finally chose to lay it underneath a tea bowl made from abaca teabag paper. Abaca is also a native of the Philippines and I think the liniwan shifu and the paper chawan harmonize well together. #piña #liniwan #shifupapercloth #chawans #teabowls #paperthreads

The thinnest known shifu was woven by House of Piña in the Philippines under the direction of Asao Shimura, miniature book artist and shifu advocate. This fine paper cloth is called liniwan shifu and it is woven with a warp of fine piña liniwan thread and a weft of 1.5mm piña paper thread. The weight of the paper, weighing only 4-5g, is what makes the paper thread extra thin. Shifu weaver Sadako Sakurai is the only other person I know of who has woven with 1.5mm paper thread. The shifu paper she uses, although very thin too, weighs 9-10g.

Liniwan fiber is the second of two layers from the leaves of the pineapple plant. The fiber is the finest of the two layers with an ivory-white color and it is used to weave the traditional piña cloth in the Philippines.

Since I only have a very small piece of liniwan shifu I wasn’t sure where to place it in the tea house. I finally chose to lay it underneath a tea bowl made from abaca teabag paper. Abaca is also a native of the Philippines and I think the liniwan shifu and the paper chawan harmonize well together. #piña #liniwan #shifupapercloth #chawans #teabowls #paperthreads

Deepak Shrestha from Kathmandu, Nepal has been engaged in making lokta shifu since the mid-1980s. His shifu paper is made from the native plant called lokta or daphne using the traditional Japanese papermaking method, but he also sometimes uses traditional Nepali papers that are thin and free of impurities. Stripe patterns are typically woven and the threads are primarily a cotton thread made in Nepal for the warp and a paper thread for the weft. Deepak’s lokta shifu sample here in the tea house has an alternating dyed and undyed paper weft. Some of the colors rendered in his weavings, including the reddish color in this sample cloth, are often dyed using mineral pigments such as red, orange, yellow, and black found in the soil. #nepal #nepalipaper #loktapaper #shifupaper #shifupapercloth #menjifu

Deepak Shrestha from Kathmandu, Nepal has been engaged in making lokta shifu since the mid-1980s. His shifu paper is made from the native plant called lokta or daphne using the traditional Japanese papermaking method, but he also sometimes uses traditional Nepali papers that are thin and free of impurities. Stripe patterns are typically woven and the threads are primarily a cotton thread made in Nepal for the warp and a paper thread for the weft. Deepak’s lokta shifu sample here in the tea house has an alternating dyed and undyed paper weft. Some of the colors rendered in his weavings, including the reddish color in this sample cloth, are often dyed using mineral pigments such as red, orange, yellow, and black found in the soil. #nepal #nepalipaper #loktapaper #shifupaper #shifupapercloth #menjifu

Although I have not had the opportunity yet to meet shifu weaver and author Hiroko Karuno @hirokoisthepaperspinner, I am honored to have a piece of her morojifu (all paper cloth) in the tea house. This particular shifu includes threads dyed with indigo plant leaves and walnut husks. In a booklet about Hiroko Karuno’s morojifu, she includes this cloth and mentions how she had eight skeins dyed using a unique indigo dyeing technique called Kurikoma. This is a special dyeing process done once a year in the town called Kurikoma in Miyagi Prefecture, and only one indigo dyer is continuing this practice there. Karuno’s kami-ito was dyed a beautiful medium indigo blue and she felt it was the perfect color since it reminded her of the sky the day she visited the indigo dyer’s studio. #morojifu #shifupapercloth #kurikoma #indigodyed #walnuthusks

Although I have not had the opportunity yet to meet shifu weaver and author Hiroko Karuno @hirokoisthepaperspinner, I am honored to have a piece of her morojifu (all paper cloth) in the tea house. This particular shifu includes threads dyed with indigo plant leaves and walnut husks. In a booklet about Hiroko Karuno’s morojifu, she includes this cloth and mentions how she had eight skeins dyed using a unique indigo dyeing technique called Kurikoma. This is a special dyeing process done once a year in the town called Kurikoma in Miyagi Prefecture, and only one indigo dyer is continuing this practice there. Karuno’s kami-ito was dyed a beautiful medium indigo blue and she felt it was the perfect color since it reminded her of the sky the day she visited the indigo dyer’s studio. #morojifu #shifupapercloth #kurikoma #indigodyed #walnuthusks

The second morojifu (all paper cloth) recently added to the tea house was woven and made into a wallet by shifu weaver Michiko Kawaguchi (1927-2001). In 1991, I had the privilege of meeting Kawaguchi at her temple house called Muryō-ji. She lived in an area where Tanba shifu was once made long ago and she set out to revive that particular kind of paper cloth; woven with a cotton warp and paper weft. Most of the paper Kawaguchi used to make her paper thread came from the nearby paper village called Kurotani. Her Tanba shifu was sold in the village gift shop and, hopefully, examples of her Tanba shifu continue to be displayed in the village museum. #tanba #kurotani #kurotaniwashi #shifupapercloth #menjifu

The second morojifu (all paper cloth) recently added to the tea house was woven and made into a wallet by shifu weaver Michiko Kawaguchi (1927-2001). In 1991, I had the privilege of meeting Kawaguchi at her temple house called Muryō-ji. She lived in an area where Tanba shifu was once made long ago and she set out to revive that particular kind of paper cloth; woven with a cotton warp and paper weft. Most of the paper Kawaguchi used to make her paper thread came from the nearby paper village called Kurotani. Her Tanba shifu was sold in the village gift shop and, hopefully, examples of her Tanba shifu continue to be displayed in the village museum. #tanba #kurotani #kurotaniwashi #shifupapercloth #menjifu

Several more examples of shifu, each made by a different shifu weaver, have been added to the tea house, and I will be sharing them in separate posts.

The first one was made by shifu weaver Kyoko Yamazaki (deceased) who gifted me with two morojifu (all paper cloth) placemats. They are now hanging as a noren curtain in the doorway of the tea house. Fortunately, I had a leftover narrow strip of my own morojifu that matched Yamazaki’s cloth and I made three tabs to hang the noren from bamboo. Yamazaki first learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai. She later became very successful with her own creations and her shifu has been recognized by winning awards at prestigious kimono contests in Kyoto. #norencurtain #teahouse #shifupapercloth #morojifu #papercloth

Several more examples of shifu, each made by a different shifu weaver, have been added to the tea house, and I will be sharing them in separate posts.

The first one was made by shifu weaver Kyoko Yamazaki (deceased) who gifted me with two morojifu (all paper cloth) placemats. They are now hanging as a noren curtain in the doorway of the tea house. Fortunately, I had a leftover narrow strip of my own morojifu that matched Yamazaki’s cloth and I made three tabs to hang the noren from bamboo. Yamazaki first learned to make shifu from Sadako Sakurai. She later became very successful with her own creations and her shifu has been recognized by winning awards at prestigious kimono contests in Kyoto. #norencurtain #teahouse #shifupapercloth #morojifu #papercloth

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