Hosokawa-shi 細川紙 ユネスコ無形文化遺産 和紙の里

Washi, handmade paper is one of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

I went to see Hosokawashi in HIgashichichibu villege.

About Hosokawa-shi

Hosokawa-shi, a traditional Japanese hand-crafted paper (washi), has long been made by the residents of Ogawa Town and Higashi-Chichibu Village in Saitama Prefecture. In 1978, the Japanese government designated the technique of making hosokawa-shi as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset. Further, in 2014, based on the UNESCO conventions for protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it has been listed in the Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage as "Washi" (including sekishu-banshi, hon-minoshi, and hosokawa-shi).

It is said that the history of papermaking in this region dated back to the 8th century. In the Edo period (1603 - 1867), the population of metropolitan Edo increased, the consumption of paper increasing with it. In the middle of the Edo period, the technique of crafting hosokawa-hosho, a high-quality paper that was being produced in Hosokawa Village in Kishu (now Wakayama Prefecture), was introduced into this region due to its proximity to Edo - a major consumer of such paper. The production of hosokawa-shi increased greatly, and the region flourished as a famous producer of paper.

Hosokawa-shi is made from domestic kozo trees, using traditional production methods and equipment. The long inner fibers of kozo are very strong, and through nagashi-zuki (a method of sheet forming) the fibers are intertwined, making hosokawa-shi paper sturdy. Durability is another important characteristic of hosokawa-shi

Training Successors

Hosokawa-shi is used in many ways, such as Japanese bookbinding, kimono wrapping paper, stencil dyeing paper, repair and restoration of old documents, to name a few. Today, its use is expanding to interior decoration such as wallpaper, interior sliding doors, light fixtures, as well as arts-and-crafts purposes such as printmaking, ink painting, and more.

Paper produced in Ogawa Town, Higashi-Chichibu Village, and nearby is collectively known as "Ogawa Washi." In addition to hosokawa-shi, various other kinds of paper are produced in the area, such as yamatochiri-shi (paperspotted with black outer bark), calligraphy paper, dyed paper, business cards, certificate paper, post cards, and letter paper.