13 Mino washi

美濃和紙  Mino washi 

Mino is located in Gifu prefecture, Japan.

The paper hand made in Gifu was designated in 1985 "Traditional Craft" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 

Washi

is the Japanese word for the traditional papers made from the long inner fibres of local plants :

檀 Kōji 

雁皮 ganpi

檀 Mayumi

also bamboo, hemp, rice and wheat.

Wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper.











As of the fall of 2008, there remained fewer than 350 families still engaged in the production of paper by hand.
Mino is head of this tradition.
The origin was in Nara period in eighth century Japan, when the high quality paper was first made in Mino. 
During the Heian period, government officials were dispatched to the area to stablish standards, such as size and color.

The  Mino Washi Paper Museum 

美濃和紙の里会館  

offers visitors the chance to discover this tradition and make their own paper using traditional method and materials. There are washi making experience workshops, a shop, and a showroom to learn about the history of Mino Washi paper. (from Mino Museum web site)

Thanks to Shoko san and Katsumi san, all together we learned how to make washi from the begining.

That was my resultate. Very soon it is going to be the screen of a lamp.

Far from big workshop and Museum there are small family owned artisan ones.

All Mino city is full of art shops and houses based on washi. 

In the courtyard of a house water became music.

Lanterns exhibition display.

Each year in October Mino lantern Festival.
(Picture from a picture in a Mino house)


NEXT : 14  Kii Katsuura