Gassan Washi Paper

Road with a long history

The Nishikawa area of Yamagata prefecture has long been a center of mountain worship based on the Three Mountains of Dewa (Dewa sanzan): Mt. Gassan, Mt. Yudono, and Mt. Haguro. Many pilgrims came from far-awdistant places, even as far off as the Kantō region, and followed the 24 km long highway that runs through the town from east to west. Remnants of the mountain cult can still be found in temples, shrines, and ruins in the area. 

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Iwanesawa Sanzan Shrine

During the Edo period (1615–1868) various types of handmade Japanese paper were produced in Nishikawa-cho, resulting in the name Nishiyama washi. Gassan washi was originally an offshoot of Nishiyama washi and is made in the Iwanesawa district of Nishikawa, situated at an entrance to Mt. Gassan, where there is a large shrine called Iwanesawa Sanzan Shrine (formerly Nichigatsu Temple) and a community of guesthouses for visiting pilgrims 

Saving the paper making tradition

When Iino Hiroo became the last paper maker in the Iwanesawa district, he changed the name from Nishiyama washi to Gassan washi and continued to engage in and teach papermaking up until 1995. The photographs taken in the mid 70’s show the family business in action. 

Papermaking at the Nature and Craft Museum, Oisawa

In 1989 in the Ōisawa district of Nishikawa, a papermaking studio was built in the Shizen to Takumi no Denshokan (Nature and Craft Museum). Iino Hiroo declined to work at the studio feeling that the 30 minute drive from Iwanesawa to Oisawa was too much at his advanced age, so Miura Kazuyuki, who was training as a papermaker in Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture, was invited to be the instructor for the papermaking studio. After Miura moved to Nishikawa, he worked with Iino mastering the production of the Gassan washi and eventually became the one and only papermaker in Nishikawa.  

A road along a clear stream

The Ōisawa district is a valley running southward from the headwaters of Sagae River located deep within the far southwest of Nishikawa. Looking north from Ōisawa, Mt. Gassan appears above the clear river. This area is sometimes called “the Japanese Tibet.” Near the old highway along the river where in the winter the heavy snowfall piles up over two meters in height, stands the ruins of a huge temple whose lines of foundation stones mark an area the size of a soccer field or a small village. 

 Characteristics of Gassan paper

Gassan washi is characterized by its effective use of locally produced paper mulberry (kōzo) to bring out texture of the natural fiber. The paper made by Iino was dried on boards that gave his paper a natural soft texture. The traditional size for the Gassan washi is 30.0 cm x 79.0 cm. Even after Miura took over the production, the paper has not changed and still brings out the texture of the paper mulberry. 

Production Processes: Harvesting and cutting

Lets take a look at the process of producing Gassan washi papermaking. The kōzo (paper mulberry) branches are harvested just before the snow sets in at the end of November. The harvested branches are then cut to about 70 cm.

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Production processes: Steaming

The cut kōzo branches are bundled together and set in a covered bucket to steam for two hours. Immediately after steaming, water is poured over them so that the outer skin contracts making it easier to strip.

Production processes: Peeling

The skin of the steamed kōzo can be easily peeled off by hand.  Since this needs to be done before the branches cool, local people and college students come to help out with the work. The peeled skin is dried in bundles. Then, the dried paper mulberry skin is soaked in water again and the surface skin is shaved off using a knife. Paper mulberry that still has the outer skin is called “black bark” (kurokawa) and the stripped paper mulberry inner skin is called "white bark" (shirokawa). The shirokawa is then dried. This process is still done with the help of the Iwanesawa locals. 

Production processes: Boiling, rinsing and removing dusts and debris

The shirakawa skins are then boiled for two hours in a solution of water and soda ash (sodium carbonate aqueous solution). The boiled paper mulberry fibers are washed in water to take the soda ash off. After thorough rinsing, scars and knots left in the fiber are taken out by hand one by one. 

Production processes: Beating

The cleaned paper mulberry fibers are beaten into pulp. In the old days, this used to be done by hand beating the paper mulberry fibers with a wooden stick on to a board, but now naginata beaters and electric beaters are used.

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Production processes: Mixing fibers and neri in the vat

The pulp is put into a vat filed with water and the fibers distributed by moving the harrow back and forth. A bamboo pole is also used to thoroughly mix the fibers, and then a viscous agent (neri) is added and the vat mixed again to create the bath for forming paper. Adding the neri emulsifies the pulp so the paper mulberry fibers are uniformly suspended in the vat. The viscous liquid from Abelmoschus manihot (tororoaoi)roots is used for neri.

Production processes: Forming paper

The paper is made using a sugeta, which is a bamboo screen set in a deckle, or frame mold with handles. It is possible to swish the pulp back and forth on the screen because of the viscocity of the neri. The solution is scooped in at the front and then swished back and forth so that the pulp spreads evenly over the screen. Depending on the type and thickness of the finished product, the movement will differ. Because the amount of pulp in the solution decreases with each sheet of paper made, fine adjustments are needed to maintain the same thickness in each paper.

We have some New Gassan Wallets at our store in various colors.

Clean your home, body, and mind to prepare for the Yew Year

In Japan we have a tradition of cleaning our houses and our bodies before the new year. House cleaning involves throwing away clutter and unnecessary items for a clean new start. A deep clean in the house that we usually prefer to do by ourselves. Cleaning can be a part of meditation. Whether or not you have someone to help you during your busy schedule in the year, it is always good to do this clean yourself to check all of the points that may have been missed, go through belongings, rearrange furniture and lifestyle. It is very meditative … nostalgic, deciding what to keep and what to toss, creative, and deciding how you want to start the next year.

After that process is completed we clean our bodies. Scrubbing off all the dirt and grind of last year. Soaking in a bath. In Japan we go to the hot springs but when they aren’t available we take a long bath with bath salts. This is also the end of the meditation, letting the steam enter your lungs and clean your spirit.

Some of the products that we recommend for the body washing process:

Makanai Scrubbing Towels: Many types to be found at https://www.japan-best.net/bath-salts/

Woven from cotton and strings made from natural washi paper which are naturally soft and durable, while leaving a gentle and pleasant after-wash unique to the Japanese bathing culture.

These body wash towels made from Japanese washi paper pulp, have been awarded Gold in the 2014 Omotenashi Selection. This award is a program dedicated to discovering, screening and awarding exciting products and services that epitomize the concept of omotenashi, a unique spirit of the Japanese culture. 

https://www.japan-best.net/bath-accessories/makanai-washi-paper-body-scrub-towel

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We also Love the selection of bath salts. Many different types: https://www.japan-best.net/bath-salts/

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Binchotan Charcoal Peeling Towel :

The fibers of the peeling towel are enriches with Binchotan charcoal, which cleanses the skin and absorbs dirt and bacteria and lightly prevent from sweating. It is perfectly suitable for both face and body as its composition is lightly scrubbing. https://www.japan-best.net/bath-accessories/kenkawai-binchotan-peeling-towel

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Uno Hake Brushes (Since 1917) for a nice good back and body scrub!

“Hake” are brushes formed by two separate pieces of wood that bind the hair and the hair fibers are planted by hand inside the wooden holes and strung together. After this the hairs are cut to symmetry.

These brushes have been modernized to have an array of modern uses. For home use, to clean your face, body, clothes, shoes, etc. https://www.japan-best.net/bath-accessories/

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We hope you enjoy our selection of Bath goods.

Xmas Japan Style

Christmas has only been widely celebrated in Japan for the last few decades. It's still not seen as a religious holiday or celebration as there are not many Christians in Japan. Now several customs that came to Japan from the USA such as sending and receiving Christmas Cards and Presents are popular.

In Japan, Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day.

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Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day, in which couples spend together and exchange presents. In many ways it resembles Valentine's Day celebrations in the UK and the USA. Young couples like to go for walks to look at the Christmas lights and have a romantic meal in a restaurant - booking a table on Christmas Eve can be very difficult as it's so popular!

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Families often eat fried chicken on Christmas day. Traditionally, homes and apartments in Japan do not have ovens so the traditional oven baked chicken cannot be made. Hence it is the busiest time of year for restaurants such as KFC and people can place orders at their local fast food restaurant in advance! There was an advertising campaign by KFC in the 1974 called 'Kentucky for Christmas!' (Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!) which was very successful and made KFC popular for Christmas!

The traditional Japanese Christmas food is Christmas cake, but it's not a rich fruitcake, but is usually a sponge cake decorated with strawberries and whipped cream. The 'shortcake' emoji is Japanese Christmas cake!

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Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan. However, often schools are closed on Christmas Day. The Emperor's birthday is a national holiday on the 23rd December and there's also a New Year school break. So the holiday break often starts around the 23rd. But most businesses will treat the 25th as a 'normal' working day.

One piece of music is especially famous around Christmas and the end of the year in Japan - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and it's final act the "Ode to Joy". The music is so famous it's simply known as 'daiku' (which means 'number nine'). Choirs all over the country sing it in German. One choir in Osaka, has 10,000 people in it and is known as the 'Number Nine Chorus'! It's thought it was first sung in Japan at Christmas by German prisoners of War in World War One and over the years it became more and more popular.

Parties are often held for children, with games and dancing. Japanese Christmas Cake is a sponge cake decorated with trees, flowers and a figure of Santa Claus. 

In Japan Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース santa-san (Mr Santa). Another Japanese gift bringer is Hoteiosho, a Japanese god of good fortune from Buddhism and not really related to Christmas. His belly and red clothing however, resemble those of Santa Clause. 

The Japanese New Year (called 'o shogatsu') is more like a traditional Western Christmas. New year is the period where families get together, have a special meal, pray and send greetings cards. New year is celebrated over five days from December 31st to January 4th and is a very busy time.

Champagne & Wine Glasses for your holiday season

Time and Style started out in 1990 as a merchant of furniture in Tokyo. The company continues to challenge the development of creating a living environment with a commitment to handmade, supporting craftsmen, while remaining contemporary. They produce “tools for life” that have been individually created by craftsmen using high quality materials, while fusing modern lifestyle with culture and tradition, as well as finding a sense of harmony and silence that are an essential part of Japanese culture. This can be felt in the delicate forms and materials that we find in their products.

It’s the union of Time and Style’s expertise in design, and knowing the right craftsmen who can bring everything together and produce a beautiful product. 

We offer a variety of glasses for different types of champagne, wine, beer, sake for you to enjoy their aromas, colors, and flavors. 

The champagne and wine glasses have supple curves, which provides a beautiful appearance, a delicate stem made thin as possible while being strong and durable.  

We also have water glasses called “Moon Glasses” in a series of  4 for the different stages of  the moon: 

Thinly blown glass with a thickness of 0.8mm. Surprisingly light when held, it features an extravagant usability and a delicate texture which accentuates the true flavor of your drinks. A sand-blast which stylishly and beautifully complements the thin glass is applied as an accent. 

We hope you enjoy our selection!

Uno Hake Brush for Cashmere Clothing

Clothing Brush (for cashmere)

Materials: Horse hair / Katsura wood

Place of Origin: Japan

Uno Hake brushes started their business in 1917. Currently Ms. Chieko Uno wiorks with her daughter Michiyo to continue their family craft.

“Hake” are brushes formed by two separate pieces of wood that bind the hair and the hair fibers are planted by hand inside the wooden holes and strung together. After this the hairs are cut to symmetry.

These brushes have been modernized to have an array of modern uses. For home use, to clean your face, body, clothes, shoes, etc.

To achieve this the animal hairs need to be chosen and prepared for each product. If pig, horse, goat, boar hair has a different texture. Each hair needs to be treated with oil.  The mother and daughter of the Uno family have a history with these materials and create products suitable for each occasion.

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Kosho-Kosho Charm  by  Peloqoon  

A Googly  eyed  character, DzKosho-Koshodz  charm  from a  handmade  plush doll.  Produced by “Beams Japan”

"Peloqoon" by  Madoka  Morikawa. Put  on  a key  chain  or on  a  bag  to  snuggle up  the  fluffy cuddle  buddy  in your  daily  life.   Peloqoon:  Peloqoon  is a  handmade  plush doll  by  Madoka Morikawa  and  the name  of  the brand  is  a coined  word  combining Japanese  onomatopoeia  of dog  slurp,DzPelo-Pelodz  and sniff  sound,  DzKun-Kundz. The  brand  offers creepy  yet  cute characters.  

We have several Sizes and colors at our store and online.

Makanai Bath Salts

Now that winter has come, it’s time to enjoy hot baths and different types of bath salts.

From the famous Makanai cosmetic company we have a selection of various flavors that all have colorful and cute packaging.

Each pack comes with 2 bath salts. We have: Sakura, Green Tea, Yuzu (Japanese Lemon), Mikan (Japanese tangerine), Hinoki Wood, Peach, Mint, Rose, Rice, Jasmine.

There are testers at the store as well so that you can smell each.

Ama Divers

Ama-san are Japanese women. The culture of these women is over 5000 years old. Deep sea divers that would traditionally dive naked with a loin cloth and a knife in their back to pry off and collect abalone and oysters and other shellfish, and seaweed. Sometimes weights are used to go down faster. They are connected with a rope that helps them to climb up faster to a wooden tub so they can leave their catch and rest before going back down. 

Women are said to be able to free dive deeper than men from up to 8 meters down holding their breath for two minutes without any aid of oxygen.  Even in very cold water they start early in the morning. Usually with their husbands in the boat.  This is generations of women, including grandmothers who dove together. The tradtion was passed from mothers to daughters. After their catch they would sit on the beach with their family and kids and all eat breakfast. A very matriarchal society in a time when women were supposed to be at home. They were part of the work force and very much respected. 

After WW2 when there was western judgment about nudity, the woman started to wear clothes and now with wetsuits. 

There are less Ama san now as the old culture has changed but you can still find them throughout Japan. 

Of course when diving for shellfish, sometimes an oyster is found with a pearl in it. Pearls are famous in Japan, mostly worn for family occasions but more and more they are used by fashion designers and trendy for younger girls. The design is different because with younger women, most prefer to wear small pearls with delicate patterns. 

For us pearls will always make us think of the Ama-san and a strong beautiful femininity that we respect.

We have some small pearls at our store. If you come by please have a look.  


Vintage Kokeshi

Kokeshi are Japanese wooden dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The pattern of the trunk of the doll usually has a floral print although sometime there are variations. The bottom of the doll usually has the signature of the artist.

Kokeshi were first produced by kijishi artisans proficient with a potter's wheel near the Tōgatta Hotsprings where kokeshi-making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku region. It is said that these dolls were originally made during the middle of the Edo period (early 1800’s) They might have been originally made by farmers who started carving these dolls during the long winters and sold as good luck dolls designed for fertility or a good harvest. These dolls were also for children. Eventually they were sold at hot springs for the many travelers who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country. In the 1920’s these dolls started becoming collectors items. From then kokeshi artists started experimenting, making very large kokeshi, very small kokeshi, different shapes, styles, etc.

It wasn’t until after WW2 when Japan was occupied by US military forces, that these dolls became a curiosity overseas. Servicemen would bring back the dolls for their wives or family in America because they were particularly cute. Since then, there have been new types of Kokeshi with many artists experimenting with new styles that we follow, as well as some of the more traditional styles.

The woods used for kokeshi vary, with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple, is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.

"Traditional" kokeshi dolls' shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under 11 different types named for the hot spring area that they originate from: Yajiro, Togatta, Narukyo, Sakunami, Tsuchiyu, Yamagata, Zao, Nanbu, Hijiori, Kijiyama, Tsugaru.

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"Creative" kokeshi (新型こけし shingata-kokeshi) are the new style of kokeshi developed after WW2 that allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and. They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative kokeshi artists are found in cities.

When looking for a vintage kokeshi there are 2 ways to choose. Some collectors look for a particular style to add to a collection, and some just look at a face and fall in love with it or the cut or style. This is part of the joy of being a kokeshi collector.

Uno Hake Brushes

Uno Hake brushes started their business in 1917. Currently Ms. Chieko Uno wiorks with her daughter Michiyo to continue their family craft.

“Hake” are brushes formed by two separate pieces of wood that bind the hair and the hair fibers are planted by hand inside the wooden holes and strung together. After this the hairs are cut to symmetry.

These brushes have been modernized to have an array of modern uses. For home use, to clean your face, body, clothes, shoes, etc.

To achieve this the animal hairs need to be chosen and prepared for each product. If pig, horse, goat, boar hair has a different texture. Each hair needs to be treated with oil.  The mother and daughter of the Uno family have a history with these materials and create products suitable for each occasion.

We have an exclusive line of products with this company at our store.

Ponzu dressing

Ponzu Sauce with 3 different types of citrus:

Make a delicious salad with Ponzu sauce or use it as a dipping sauce or a dressing.  Or just add it to any dish for more flavor. 

Ponzu is a popular and widespread sauce in Japan. It combines soy sauce, dashi (fish soup stock) and a Japanese citrus. It also often includes a little bit of vinegar or mirin. Its taste is very much appreciated as it is both fresh and deep and rich in umami.

You can make a salad and use cherry tomatoes, green salad, avocado, cucumbers, radish, daikon, fresh seaweed, mango, fruits, shiso, basil, and whatever vegetables and herbs you like. You can add chicken, tofu, tuna fish, scallops, meat, or what every you like.

We also use it as a dipping sauce for hotpot dishes or shabu shabu etc.

There are No specific rules on how you like to use it. Take a taste and let your imagination take you to enjoy a meal.

We have this at our store so please feel free to stop by and try to add it to your list condiment list. For us, it is just as a important to keep in the fridge next to soy sauce.



Vincent Shoelaces & Cocks Combs

"Vincent Shoelace" was started by a man and woman from Kyoto and their love of shoes however he felt that there was a lack in shoe lace varieties so they decided to design their own. They consider that you should change your shoelaces like you change your hairstyles. There all multiple colors and patterns.

The Bees wax:

It is an original waterproof wax for waxing your laces so that they stay clean. All materials are combined with natural ingredients, and are handmade by two people. Lanolin, which is taken from beeswax and kyou oil.

You rub the shoelace with the bar of wax like you would an eraser and finally lightly melt the wax with a dryer. This process makes the shoelace stronger and helps to keep it shape better when tied. The wax also protects your laces from dirt and rain.

They also created what they named, “Cocks Comb” in three different colors so you can change the front of you favorite sneakers when they get dirty. A spin-off item that they wanted to create as another way to accessorize your sneakers.

These products can be found at our store. 

Sakurai Kokeshi Wooden Dolls

As our clients know, we always find special vintage Kokeshi dolls. We will of course continue to have a selection, however we have found a more modern company that we will have at our store. A more modern take on Kokeshi with different colors and patterns. We hope you enjoy these as well.

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This is their companies story:

The Kokeshi studio/shop of Akihiro Sakurai, is located in Naruko, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Naruko, a very famous spa community, has one of the oldest and strongest traditions of Kokeshi that dates back more than a hundred years. Surrounded by the majestic nature of Naruko and nurtured by a lively flow of travelers, they are always striving for further sophistication while honoring generations of family Kokeshi tradition—meeting contemporary demands while promoting Kokeshi culture. They produce traditional Kokeshis in types such as “Iwazo,” “Mannojo,” and “Eikichi,” (all named after their ancestors) as well as wooden Hina-ningyo type Kokeshis.

Kokeshi has a tradition nurtured by harsh winters, blessing of hot springs, and uncompromising craftspeople-kokeshi, a type of simple, traditional wooden doll, is thought to have originated as a children's toy during the mid-19th century in the hot-springs communities deep within the mountains of today's Miyagi Prefecture. In the mid-20th century, people "discovered" kokeshi, and the emergence of collectors transformed it from an everyday toy to a coveted treasure for all generations. With their stark simplicity and gentle expressions, kokeshis have long been used as beloved gifts suitable to a variety of occasions, such as birthdays, house warmings, weddings, and births, and as unique design objects to illuminate contemporary homes.

This companies Kokeshi tradition goes back to Matagoro Ohnuma, who is believed to be the founder of Naruko Kokeshi, towards the end of the Edo period. Since then, surrounded by the abundant nature and hot springs of Naruko, they have produced Kokeshi for generations.

Although the environment that surrounds Kokeshi has changed drastically over the course of 150 years—including social transformations, booming demand, and changing taste—their fundamental attitude towards Kokeshi has remained unchanged: pursuit of tradition and exploration of new possibilities.

Today, with an aging and declining population and challenges faced within the local economy, the situation of Kokeshi craft in Naruko is not an easy one. However, with Akihiro’s young son, Naomichi returned back from Tokyo his studies in Tokyo, and are striving to revitalize this unique craft in a sustainable way, accommodating contemporary demands while maintaining tradition.

We hope you enjoy our selection of new Kokeshi!

Sugai World Cute Clips

We are currently showcasing a new brand from Tokyo called, “Sugai World”. They are very cute clips in different styles … animals, monster characters, etc.  We only have a limited selection right now so come to the store to get them soon!

An interview with Sugai World is as follows:

Q.1 What is the SUGAI WORLD ?

We are tokyo based happy design gift maker. We plan and design all of our products, and ask Japanese factories to make them. We are committed to creating unique and playful products, mainly stationery. And we are trying to make them from eco-friendly material as much as possible.

Q.2 How did it start the SUGAI WORLD, Inc.?

When our founder, Yu SUGAI, was working for an another company, he started writing down his ideas about things that can change the life more comfortable and happier. (There are more than 20 idea-notebooks now.)That was a way to reduce his stress in a packed train of everyday.

At first, He was just enjoying sharing his ideas with his friends. But someday, one of them said to him, “Your ideas are so fun! Why don’t you make them?”, and he said “Why not !? Let’s do that!! “.

In 2011, we made the first product “Mustache-it”, a mustache shaped sticky note.

For the first 2 years, we were selling only the one. “Mustache-it” became a quite big hit riding the mustache-boom which came in those days. (That was a beginner’s luck!)

Then we made second product and third… and in 2013, we made our first debut at Tokyo Gift show.

Q.3 What is the purpose of the SUGAI WORLD products?

People in Japan work very hard in a small spaces. So we want to make them to be able to work happier with our products. And also, we hope the same thing about people all of the world. Our mission is “give imagination and dream to the world ”.

Q.4 What is the dream of the SUGAI WORLD?

To communicate with people all over the world through our products. And we believe that will be a part of the world peace.