Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Take a Leaf Out of
Their Book
The Genda Shigyo company
has been handcrafting paper
since 771 and in Kyoto since
794. Pop into the ancient store
to admire the mizuhiki –
twisted paper ribbons. Give
the tradition a go: head to Ozu
Washi in Tokyo (p23) to pour a
mixture of bark and water
into a sieve, before sifting to
form a perfect piece of paper.
Just like panning for gold.

A traditional paper
craftsman working
in his studio

Lustrous Lacquerware
Made from the sap of the urushi tree, lacquer
is durable, waterproof, and shiny – the
perfect varnish. Lacquerware is as ornate
as it is resilient. The birthplace of this craft,
Wajima is the perfect place to try your hand
at designing your own (p176). At the Wajima
Kobo Nagaya workshop, you can engrave a set
of chopsticks and talk
to experienced artisans
Sumptuous lacquerware about their work (4-66-1
plate inlaid with pearl Kawai-machi).

Seize the Clay
In the 16th century,
advanced techniques
from Korea revolution­
ized Japan’s ceramics
industry. Kyushu – on
the Korea Strait – has
since been Japan’s
great est ceram ics pro­
ducer. Hop between
ancient workshops and
laden market stalls in
the Saga pot tery towns
(p280). At Rokuro­za in
in Arita, take to the pot­
ter’s wheel to mould
your own mas ter piece
(1-30-1 Izumiyama).

Hand-wringing freshly Spinning clay by
dyed silk at a textile hand at a Kyushu
plant’s dye workshop potter’s workshop

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