Journeys in Japan

Mino City, Gifu (1x16)

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In this week's journeys in japan, we visit the Mino-city in Aichi Pre, the town where famous for Japanese traditional paper "Washi". Washi is made from the fibers of tree bark and all handmade by traditional artisans has a beautiful appearance and texture. There are about 30 artisans who still produce washi in the traditional way. Tatsuo Ichikawa is one of oldest washi artisans in Mino city. He took over from his father in the family business. He explained to us how washi is made. He can only make 300 papers a day. There is a part of town where wholesalers dealing washi was lined. Some of the old buildings have survived to this day in their original form. Kyuu Imaike jyutaku is open for public to see the history of Mino city. Washi is used a lot of different ways. Keiko Ichikawa decided to use washi for material to make clothes. Since the tradition is fading little by little. She thinks that is possible to pass down the tradition of Mino Washi to future generations if she can come up with new and different uses, like making clothes. Also in Mino city there is a cuisine which is made using washi, used as a cooking pot. Vegetable, meat and soup are prepared in pot made of washi, and then put the washi pot on to the fire. Since the old days, washi has been used to make lanterns, known as "chochin" in Japanese. Hideki Haba is now the only traditional lantern maker in Mino. He has a lantern shop on the main street in Mino. He runs a shop with his daughter Hideka. They show and explain how to make the traditional lantern to all people who visit the shop. There is washi museum too. The museum displays various traditional items made of washi from all over Japan. In addition, there's a workshop where visitors can find out how washi-making is done. You can make some washi products here at the museum like a post cards and bigger sheets as notepaper. The whole process takes 20 minutes to 1day, depending on which course you choose. Also bicycles can be rented from road