Japan's washi paper — the world's thinnest — finds new lease on life
Once an indispensable part of daily life in Japan, washi paper was used for everything from writing and painting to lampshades, umbrellas and sliding doors, but demand has plunged as lifestyles have become more Westernized. Despite its 1,300-year history and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status, ...
Examining Japan's traditional paper trail
As temperatures drop across the country, washi makers nationwide enter their peak production season.
When the thought really counts
This month's On: Design focuses on a few everyday items that offer much more than meets the naked eye.
Staying razor sharp: At the sharp end of Sakai's handmade knife industry
In Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, two things are certain: You're never far from the remains of dead people and you're never far from a knife. The two are connected, but not in the way you might think. Historically an important seaport with a current population of ...
'Paper sommelier' hopes to help revive Japan's washi industry
Yoshinao Sugihara, head of a traditional paper wholesaler in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, takes the use of washi paper to a new level in interior design.
'Meiji Kogei: Amazing Japanese Art'
Sept. 7-Oct. 30 This upcoming exhibition celebrating Japan's Meiji Era (1868-1912) aims to live up to its name by setting out to amaze even the most erudite of art and culture fans. More than 100 works of traditional crafts from Meiji Japan — including netsuke, lacquerware, ...
The new look of Japanese artisans
Machi-kōba is the name given to small, city factories in Japan, usually operated by a family, or a handful of craftspeople. While traditional Japanese crafts slowly gather dust in museums, the baton of the "unknown craftsman" has been passed on to these factories.
