| Description |
Traditional knowledge, techniques and process to produce “Washi” -Japanese hand-made paper have been transmitted through generations since the 8th century. It has been used not only for writing letters and making books, but also for home interiors such as paper screens, room dividers and sliding doors. While three communities (The Sekishu-Banshi Craftsmen’s Association, the Association for the Preservation of Hon-minoshi Papermaking and the Hosokawa-shi Craftsmen’s Association) have shared their traditional production process; using Kozo plant (mulberry family) as a raw material, soaking its skins in clear river water, placing loose Kozo fibers in thickened water and filtering them with a bamboo-screen, each community has developed their own techniques such that each Washi has its own specific feature.
Following the introduction in the 19th Century of low-cost machine-made paper and the modernization of peoples’ lifestyles and consumption patterns, the production and use of Washi was extensively affected. However, people of the concerned communities considered Washi-making techniques as their important cultural heritage and continued to make Washi to meet both traditional and new consumers’ demands such as modern interiors. Most of the inhabitants of the three communities have been playing some roles in keeping this craftsmanship viable, ranging from the cultivation of Kozo, training of the techniques, creation of new forms of products to promotion of Washi domestically and internationally. Today their lives centre around Washi, acting as a catalyst of their social cohesion, identity and pride affirmation. Furthermore these communities have built strong ties between and among them by exchanging information and experiences with a view to cooperating with each other. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Washi-making has been a centre of local inhabitants’ lives. It has supported people’s livelihoods and their socio-cultural lives. The local communities have been formed by people directly engaged in or closely related to Washi including those involved in cultivation of Kozo plant, in Washi-making, in training of the techniques and in revitalization and promotion of the products made of Washi. Those communities are called “Washi no Sato (Home of Washi)” and not only the members of associations, but also all people in the three locations are involved in the Washi-related activities of the communities. Washi thus fosters social cohesion among inhabitants of each local community.
The three locations have developed through Washi. All people living in these locations take pride in their tradition of Washi-making and regard it as the symbol of their cultural identity.
Today, numerous activities concerning Washi are carried out in order to maintain its viability. People in the three regions make efforts not only to transmit the Washi-making techniques itself, but also to use the Washi-related historical resources to make new creative forms of product, for example promoting fashionably designed lamp shades made by Washi that attract wide attention notably among young consumers. Washi thus assumes a renewed function in the three communities. |
| Transmission method |
Washi papermaking is transmitted on three levels: families of Washi craftsmen, preservation associations and local municipalities.
The knowledge and skills associated with Washi-making have been passed down from parents to children. Children who are born into a family of Washi papermakers basically learn and acquire the knowledge and skills by helping their parents at an atelier in the home.
Since the 1960s when Washi craftsmen preservation associations were formed, the members of the associations have been assuming a significant role in transmitting Washi-making techniques. For example, they hold workshops for the younger generations to learn Washi-making, provide local children with opportunities to directly experience papermaking, produce documentation on Washi and publish it with support from the national and local governments.
The local municipalities have been financially and technically assisting the various activities mentioned above. Furthermore, these municipalities founded and manage promotional institutions such as the Sekishu Washi Centre in Hamada City, the Mino Washi Museum in Mino City, the Ogawa Washi Workshop Centre in Ogawa Town or the Higashi-chichibu Washi-no-Sato Japanese Paper Craft Centre in Higashi-chichibu Village, which aims to provide information on the techniques of Washi-making as well as its uses. They are also active in holding various events, such as inviting artists from outside the local community, to exchange ideas for innovative uses of Washi. |
| Community |
The Sekishu-Banshi Craftsmen’s Association, the Association for the Preservation of Hon-minoshi Papermaking,
the Hosokawa-shi Craftsmen’s Association, and the members in these three communities who share the history of traditional papermaking and its uses. They are also actively involved in preserving the tradition. In addition, local inhabitants of the three locations: Misumi-cho in Hamada City, Mino City and Ogawa Town/Higashi-chichibu Village also form an important part of the communities concerned.
Washi paper has been generally made by families and their employees, working under the Washi masters who have inherited the techniques from their parents. Thus traditional papermaking techniques have been typically transmitted from parents to children in Washi-making families. In addition, recently there are young people from urban areas who are eager to learn and master Washi-making. These people move to Washi-making regions and become new bearers of it.
Facing the historical evolution of Japanese society and resulting decrease in demand for Washi, the Washi masters and their families in the three communities formed associations to preserve and revitalize Japanese traditional papermaking, so that details of papermaking knowledge and techniques would be well maintained while they actively recreate Washi-making techniques to meet new demands as the people’s lifestyle further changes.
Both the Washi-making families, as practitioners, and the local residents in the three regions who take pride in the Washi-making tradition are involved in promoting Washi-making techniques and its uses by holding Washi-making classes for local people as well as visitors. In all three regions, the museums and crafts centres provide hands-on experience of making Washi paper. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2014 |
