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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWashi can be made wearing gloves and eyeglasses, but that washi will not speak to the heart. Yes, I\u2019m concerned about drainage and protecting the environment, but the only way to relay the inherent message of washi is to start with the basics and approach each element, one by one. After all, I want to make beautiful washi that speaks to the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A washi artist of some 40 years, Rogier first discovered the traditional Japanese handmade paper as an apprentice bookbinder in his homeland, the Netherlands. \u201cWashi took on a mystical appearance when held up to the light, like the church\u2019s stained glass windows.\u201d The perfectly fascinating beauty of the washi encouraged Rogier to travel solo to Japan. He visited studios throughout the country and ultimately settled in Kochi. Chosing his words carefully, Rogier told me why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKochi is the starting point and the essence of washi making. It has a largest production of raw material and the best tools in Japan. All technical innovations from the Meiji period onward took place right here. Also, the atmosphere of Kochi is different from the rest of Shikoku Island. The people here still uphold the traditional way of life. That is Kochi\u2019s greatest strength.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n An idyllic satoyama landscape unfolds outside the windows. The kozo<\/em> (paper mulberry), mitsumata<\/em> (oriental paperbush), and kuwa<\/em> (common mulberry) plants growing in the fields on the slopes are extending their branches freely under the comfort of the gentle sun. I saw what Rogier meant. Time seems to have stood still here for an eternity. The peaceful scenery is reminiscent of lovely old Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery few growers are left. From a sense of crisis, I started leasing and expanding into neglected fields and paddies about five years ago. On the bright side, more young people now are keen on returning to the basics and growing their own materials while keeping the water clean and steering clear of pesticides. I also think more people are appreciating the values of washi. I really feel it coming\u2014this is the beginning of a new era.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u3000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":50209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[119,121],"tags":[441,2287,2784,2878,3517,3603,3604],"place":[222],"writer":[],"class_list":["post-50228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-guides-en","category-trip-en","tag-kochi","tag-organic","tag-issue-64-en","tag-washi","tag-artist","tag-rogier-uitenboogaart","tag-washi-studio-kamikoya","place-kochi-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/papersky.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/0316_160_NK-1024x683.jpg\")
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