Kozo is the Japanese name for the mulberry trees that seem to grow particularly well in the Obara region of Aichi Prefecture’s Toyota City. These mulberry trees have been the source of the particularly strong and versatile traditionally handcrafted washi paper produced here since at least the late 1400’s. Kozogami washi is much stronger than ordinary paper, and is the most common type of washi. It is closer to woven cloth than paper, and was used for the traditional arts of origami, shodo (calligraphy) and Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Other uses include sliding screen doors in houses, books, and even items of clothing.

The people of Obara Village have been making a particular type of paper known as Mikawa Morishita Gami for hundreds of years. Until the Showa period, this strong paper had been used for umbrellas and shoji screens amongst many other uses. The manufacture of the washi was a long and labor intensive process that was often carried out in the cold winter months since farming was halted, and cold, fresh water was essential to the making of washi.

The full process, and the results can be seen in the Obara Paper Art Museum, Toyotashi Washi no Furusato on the outskirts of Toyota City.

The museum gallery displays the culture of Obara washi, and art works using the versatile paper. In particular, works related to Fujii Tatsukichi, the founder of Obara paper art, along with washi from all over Japan can be seen. The museum’s grounds are surrounded by lush greenery, with vegetation used in the papermaking processes along the pleasant walking trails.

Visitors can watch a short explanatory video on the papermaking process and then try their hand at making their own sheets of creative paper in the Art and Craft Center, where painting, calligraphy, and fan making is offered. Handcrafted Obara washi products are also for sale.

While the thought of a museum dedicated to paper may not sound so appealing at first, discovering the history and the culture behind Japan’s wonderful washi paper, and seeing, and experiencing for yourself the arts it has spawned, makes for a fascinating first hand look at one of Aichi’s important traditional handcrafts.

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Left: A kayak made entirely of washi paper, properly treated to become waterproof
Center: Washi-made Kimono dress with Obi belt
Right: Various kinds of colorful raw washi are on sale at the shop