Institut für Kunstgeschichte Ostasiens The Art of Washi – Tradition, Innovation, and Contemporary Challenges in Japanese Papermaking

Drawing on recent fieldwork conducted in notable centres of washi production—Echizen in Fukui, Mino in Gifu, and Ino-machi in Kochi—this presentation highlights the nuanced regional differences that influence both the craft and its associated communities.
During these visits, I interviewed papermakers, farmers, artists, and distributors, each contributing unique perspectives on the current realities and potential futures of washi production. Their testimonies reveal the challenges posed by the declining availability of raw materials, as well as the broader environmental and policy issues at stake. The lecture thus considers how strategic policymaking and sustainable resource management may safeguard these traditions for future generations. Furthermore, it illuminates the profound impact that variations in raw fibres and production methods have on the quality, texture, and aesthetic properties of washi, and how these attributes shape its continuing relevance in contemporary art, design, and cultural heritage preservation.