KAMINOSHIGOTO (カミノシゴト) is a brand developed by Japanese paper craftsmen using special Mino handmade Washi paper. Matomi Sato, the producer if KAMINOSHIGOTO started his very first exhibition with Mino Japanese paper craftsman and a designer team. The exhibition was held at Shinjuku OZONE from 2002 to 2006 and proved to be successful after winning the Good Design Award in New Frontier Design and Recognition of Traditional Japanese Materials and Craft. Since 2012, Ieda Paper Craft has been administrating products of the KAMINOSHIGOTO brand, following the theme “Life with Japanese Paper.”

The Virtues of Mino Washi Paper

Mino hand-made washi paper dates back around 1,300 years. It was used for the oldest remaining public documents stored in the ancient capital Nara’s Shosoin Temple. The composition of the paper, with fine, evenly tangled Kozo (paper mulberry) fibers, has enabled the paper to maintain its beauty even to this day.

Crafting
Water gives life to Paper Crafting. Mino Washi, is a thin, fine, yet strong hand-crafted paper made sheet by sheet from fine layers of Kozo (mulberry) fibers found in the nature abundant Mino region of Gifu Prefecture. Its quality is the highest among all Japanese handmade papers.

Watermark
Sunlight Passes Through Mino Washi.
Mino Washi has long been used in the shoji sliding screen doors of Japanese homes, as its uniform surface allows light to pass through in a distinctive manner, creating a warm and subtle
light effect. The beauty of that light gained the attention of famed 20th century sculptor, Isamu Noguchi, leading to the creation of his “Akari” series of Japanese paper lighting installations. On November 27, 2014, the traditional manufacturing techniques for quality Mino Japanese paper were registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage skill.

Delivering Hand Made Japanese Washi Paper

The workshop studio for Ieda Paper Craft makes original paper for Mizu-uchiwa fans, paper for lanterns, and special water-drop papers. Recently they have been focusing on not just paper production, but on product development using the manufactured paper. While they had previously developed womenʼs accessories, a request from specialty shop Kaminoshigoto led to the development of the Origami Jewell lineup. Originally hand-made Japanese paper was one of lifeʼs necessities, used for writing, as well as for building applications, such as shoji screens and wall papers. However, nowadays, there are many cheaper bulk made paper materials, and the use, and so the need for hand-made paper has declined. Even so, they hope to make new materials that appeal to peopleʼs lives.

The Texture and Beauty of Traditional Paper

How can we incorporate traditional hand-made Japanese paper into our modern lives? Under the themes of “Washi Material Production” and “Proposed Activities”, we are striving to
explore new avenues of washi use. In an effort to convey the original texture and beauty of Japanese paper, we are looking to create original papers, one sheet at a time, with watermarks including kanji characters, letters, arabesque or snowflake patterns to create new ways to enjoy paper.

Creating the Delicate Designs of the Natural World

Mino Washi is made from the finely entwined fibers of natural materials that can be best observed on the outer edges of the hand made sheets. In the Nature series, the warm characteristics of the Mino Japanese paper is used to replicate the delicate designs of the natural world, such as feathers and veined leaves found in nature. Once used for shoji screen doors, lanterns and other daily life uses, Mino Washi is no longer a necessity in modern day life, and so by adding new ideas and designs, it is possible to promote the merits of Mino Washi in new forms.

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