Understand/Buy
The "present" of Echizen washi paper is spread out in a warehouse built in the Taisho era (1912-1926).The "present" of Echizen washi paper is spread out in a warehouse built in the Taisho era (1912-1926).Large-size Japanese paper with a leather-like lacquer coating, a Japanese paper business card that can be torn off and handed in…Sugihara Shoten's gallery and store "Washiiya" was a creative world beyond imagination.
"This is the result of the craftsman's vigorous spirit of challenge.Compared to other production areas, Imadate has stronger ties between craftsmen and wholesalers, and I think this is due in large part to the fact that they work together as a tripod,".
Yoshinao Sugihara says so.He is the 10th generation head of the store, which has been in the wholesale business since 1871, and is a "washi sommelier" who has introduced numerous products to the world in cooperation with craftsmen.
Since the disappearance of the *Kamiza under the protection of the shogunate and clan, craftsmen have pursued distinctive papermaking techniques, and wholesalers have developed venues where their skills can live.
The diversification of Echizen washi from its traditional origins to a variety of uses, such as the first paper currency issued by the Meiji government, the "Dajokan bill", washi for paintings that attracts top painters, and interior materials that adorn modern architectural masterpieces, represents Echizen washi's challenge to carve out its own path of success.
Among them, Mr. Sugihara has been promoting Echizen Washi as a material that expresses the spirit and traditional beauty of Japan, and has increased its recognition in the fields of architecture and art through the creation of his own unique products
"I make products based on what I want, so I guess what I find interesting and absorb is what gives me strength as a wholesaler."
Mr. Sugihara says, "It was the result of honestly implementing hints I got from encounters with people," and his energy has also paved the way for spreading the appeal of Echizen washi overseas.Nowadays, it has become a brand that Sugihara Shoten handles, transcending the unwritten rule that wholesalers are not allowed to appear on the market.
In the process of expanding his sales channels to Paris, London, and N.Y., Mr. Sugihara says that seeing Japan from the other side of the ocean, he was intensely reminded of the excellence of Echizen washi.This has led to a true belief that "Echizen is the world's best washi production center," and has become a driving force that stimulates the creativity of artisans, who are more energetic in exploring new fields and creating new products.
"It is the wholesaler's job to support an environment in which artisans can concentrate on their creations,".
Mr. Sugihara tries his best to create value by allowing one to get the best paper in Echizen and protecting the production area.The words he repeats with a gentle smile show his pride as a wholesaler.
*Kamiza: A professional group of paper merchants in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods whose privileges regarding sales were approved by the shogunate and the head office.
Text/Kumie Sato
