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Papermakers in Echizen have stunning gardens

ECHIZEN WASHI "SHIKIBU" HANDMADES

The Echizen Prefecture is best known today for their extensive varieties of decorative, machine made papers. For hundred of years, the region has produced many of the finest handmade sheets found in Japan. Unlike other areas of the country, where we see a decline in the tradition of papermaking, the Echizen Prefecture is experiencing a renaissance - with a new generation of papermakers learning and continuing the old and revered techniques of their masters.

These sheets of exceptional quality and beauty were make by master papermaker Futoshi Umedo, who specializes in papers made of gampi and mitsumata. All sheets are neutral pH.

photo © Victoria Paper Company

SHIKIBU GAMPI-SHI WHITE - 100% gampi. Unusual for its clear, lustrous white tonality. 4 deckles; neutral pH

SHIKIBU GAMPI-SHI HEAVY WHITE - 100% gampi. Unusual for its clear, lustrous white tonality. 4 deckles; neutral pH

SHIKIBU MITSUMATA-SHI WHITE - 100% mitsumata. Off-white tonality with a warm, lustrous sheen. Although the sheets are smooth, they have a remarkable, fabric-like visual texture. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

SHIKIBU KOZO-SHI - 100% kozo. Off-white tonality with an exaggerated laid pattern. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

SHIKIBU GAMPI-SHI COLORS - 100% gampi. Hand dyed in an array of colors. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

Colors:

MORE LIGHTWEIGHT COLORED GAMPI

Bicchu Torinoko Gampi; Hiromi Gampi Dyed Machine Made; Usuyou Gampi-shi; Kathmandu Silk

SHIKIBU KIZUKISHI KOZO DYED - these strong, sheer sheets are dyed in range of subtle colors. The sheets are translucent even in the darker colors. The natural tones mimic those found in aged papers, making them particularly useful for the restoration of aged documents, books and fabrics. Exceptional quality!

Colors

DHM2 Kozo-shi

THE HIROMI COLLECTION

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HANDMADE PAPERS FOR CONSERVATION AND PRINTING

NEW YORK CENTRAL is proud to present this remarkable collection of Japanese papers made available to the American market through the efforts of Hiromi Katayama. The Hiromi Collection is unique in that it offers the widest selection outside of Japan, of the finest quality Japanese papers for printing and conservaton made by some of the world's most esteemed papermakers, including those named by the Japanese Government as National Living Treasures.

All papers are made using techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation and with skills acquired through lifetimes of experience. With Japan's modernization, papermaking of this caliber is in grave danger of becoming extinct. By providing these papers to more artists and crafts people around the world, we hope that their use will encourage the tradition of artistry to continue for many generations to come.

It is virtually impossible to describe the subtle differences between the "personalities" of each paper. For this reason, the papers have been categorized by the fiber (s) with which they are made. Dosa is a sizing made from animal glue and alum and is used to reduce absorbency.

When deciding if a sheet is suitable for your needs,first consider the properties of the fiber, the tonality of the sheet, its gram weight, sizing and size.

HANDMADE KIZUKISHI HON-MINO-GAMI

Mino-Gami papers have been highly praised since the year 702 when their quality won them the honor of being used for official documents. In 1969, the techniques of Hon-Mino-Gami were designated as Important Cultural Properties and five members of this community were selected as National Living Treasures of Japan. The papers listed below are made by students of these five papermaking masters, including Mr. and Mrs. Furuta, - who continued to make these grades well into their 80's. They are of 100% Nasu Kozo, which is grown in the Ibaragi (also known as Ibaraki) Prefecture and has a shorter fiber than other kozo. This kozo gives these sheets their special texture and warmth.

Sheets are formed in the winter months only, as the cool temperatures result in a much finer, crisper sheet. New York Central and Hiromi International are honored to be exclusive distributors of these rare, beautiful papers in the United States.

All are off-white and have 4 deckles with neutral pH. Traditional names have been given, however, the only difference between these sheets is the weight of the paper.

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HANDMADE KIZUKISHI

The tone of these 100% kozo sheets results from the preparation of the fiber. The bark is made up of three layers: Kurokawa, - the black outer layer; Nazekawa, - the green middle layer and Shirokawa, - the white inner layer. In most cases, the kurokawa is completely stripped off and the nazekawa is carefully scraped away with a knife. If a natural tone is desired, some of the nazekawa will be left behind before the kozo is dried. The dried bark is soaked and cooked in an alkali solution to soften the fibers and then rinsed and cleaned once again. For the whitest sheets possible, the pulp is bleached using natural processes such as the sun or snow, or chemically treated with sodium hypochlorite. A few papers have the additon of the black kurokawa, which deepens the color and produces a remarkable rich tonality. All sheets have 4 deckles.

HANDMADE KOZO/SULPHITE BLENDS

Although kozo is considered the most versatile fiber and is used in the majority of Japanese papers, sulphite (wood pulp)is a common additive. Sulphite has a shorter fiber length, so papers with high percentages can be less strong. However, sulphite increases bulk, softness and absorbency, which are important qualities for a variety of techniques. sheets have 4 deckles.

HANDMADE 100% GAMPI PAPERS & GAMPI/KOZO BLENDS

Gampi yields a strong, crisp sheet that is translucent with almost no visible fibers. These papers have a very smooth surface and a satin-like sheen that becomes more apparent as the sheet becomes thinner. The skill required to make these virtually flawless sheets is second only to their beauty. All sheets are a natural tone and have 4 deckles. One paper, HM5, Gampi-shi is a blend of 90% gampi and 10% kozo.

HANDMADE 100% MITSUMATA PAPERS

Mitsumata has a shorter fiber length than kozo or gampi, which produces a more absorbent, softer sheet with a smooth, lustrous surface similar to gampi. For centuries, mitsumata has been the preferred pulp for calligraphy and gold-leaf papers. All sheets are made of 100% mitsumata and have 4 deckles. Mitsumata in its natural tone has a distinctive pink cast.

*Code numbers which include a "D" indicate that the paper is sized with dosa

**limited quantities available

GAMPI BUSINESS CARDS - handmade from 100% gampi, these extra heavyweight cards have a lustrous, smooth surface. Excellent for small paintings, drawings or prints. 4 deckles, off white. Neutral pH.

HIROMI MOULDMADE & MACHINE MADE PAPERS

Hiromi Mouldmade and Machine Made varieties offer exceptional quality and variety. Although the formation of the sheets is made by machine, it is important to note that many hand processes are still necessary to prepare the pulp. This results in sheets that exhibit many of the characteristics of their handmade counterparts.

All papers are neutral pH. Mouldmade sheets have 2 deckles and 2 torn edges while machine made sheets have no deckles.

MOULDMADE PAPERS

SH 3 YAYOI - made of kozo and sulphite pulp; soft white. Designed for Japanese marbling techniques. One smooth side, the other with texture.

SH 4 HARUKAZE - made of 20% bleached kozo and 80% sulphite pulp. Bright white, lightweight sheets intended for sumi-e painting and bookarts.

SH5 TANBO - made of 90% sulphite pulp and 10% bleached kozo. Natural, densely constructed sheet with one smooth side and the other textured.

SH6 ZANGETSU - made of 10% bleached kozo , 85% recycled paper and 5% rayon. Natural, heavyweight sheet for printmaking and watercolor.

SH7 HOSHO-SHI - made of 80% sulphite pulp and 10% manila hemp. Bright white, mouldmade version of the traditional, absorbent block printing paper.

SH8 SANSUI - made of 10% kozo, 70% sulphite pulp, 15% recycled paper and 5% rayon. Off-white, thin, yet strong. Works well for letterpress.

SH12 HIRYU - made of 20% bleached kozo, 10% black kozo, 50% sulphite pulp and 20% recycled paper. Greenish natural, soft and absorbent.

SH13 KOREAN KOZO - made of 50% Korean kozo, 20% kozo black bark, 15% manila hemp and 15% sulphite pulp. Greenish natural.

SH15 SHIGURE - made of 50% kozo and 50% sulphite pulp. Off-white, thin crisp sheet with subtle, cloud like swirls of fibers.

SH32 YUGEN - made of 40% bleached kozo, 55% sulphite pulp and 5% rayon. Natural, medium weight sheet suitable for printing.

SH35 MINGEI NATURAL - made of 40% kozo, 60% sulphite pulp. Mingei-shi translates as "folk craft paper". Used for making decorative sheets.

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