The other day, we went to Fukui Pref., located to the north of Kyoto, to meet an artisan who still makes Japanese paper by traditional procedure.

We have many goals to pursue our project.  We will make long-lasting masterpieces using the best quality products of our country in this era.
Also, we have to succeed our traditional craftsmanship (paper, ink, brush, etc.) to next generation.
That’s why we decided to ask Mr. Igarashi who is regarded one of the best paper artisans in Japan to make paper for our project.

I did not know much about Japanese paper before I met him.
Japanese paper has many varieties by material and procedure.
This time, we ask him to make special paper.
It will be twice thicker than the normal, using Mitsumata 100% made in Japan.

In fact, Japanese paper has been very popular from ancient times.
In the beginning of 17th century, the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn ordered Japanese paper to make copperplate prints.
Picasso also bought Japanse paper made in Fukui Pref. and did his works on them.

This time, we ask him to make the best quality paper using the same procedure as Rembrandt and Picasso.

On that day, Ms. Murabayashi brought her ink and brush there and painted on varieties of paper.
She seemed to wonder what to paint, so I ordered her to draw crabs (Because Fukui is very famous for its crabs, especially in winter.)
And she did a fantastic work!

I found she has been changing the way to paint and she did 3 paintings around only 10mins!!  She is getting a very exciting artist!!

Mr. Igarashi is going to make the best quality paper in this winter and we will also find the right ink and brush, then she is goint to start from sketch for the painting on Fusuma sliding doors.

Ladies and gentlemen, please look forward to her works!!