GOTO, Seikichiro. ~ Kami wo kosu ie - Paper Making House.
First edition. No. 80 of 80 copies. 1 fold out stencil-dyed print, plus a further 46 stencil illustrations, many with colour, being images of paper-making houses all over the country, implements for paper-making, plants used in paper-making, various processes &c. Text in Japanese and English. 22.6 x 27 cms. 34 ff. Oblong 4to, Fukurotoji stab binding, original stencil dyed paper wrappers, printed paper label on upper cover, in the original washi tsutsu case with ties and paper label on upper cover. Very good.
Goto Seikichiro (1898-1989) was a paper-maker and key figure in the world of mingei, or folk crafts. After studying Japanese and Western painting, went to learn the craft of artisanal Japanese paper-making from all over the country at the recommendation of Yanagi Soetsu, the founder of the ‘mingei’ movement. In 1945 he moved to Fujinomiya City to make paper where he instigated a revival kindara and suruga washi and applied techniques like stencil dyeing. In 1978 (six years after the publication of the present book) his contribution to craft was officially recognised by Shizuoka prefecture, who awarded the prestigious title of Intangible Cultural Property.
The Paper Making House is Goto’s ninth book and shows some of his extensive knowledge of Japan’s paper-makers. Alongside Goto’s own stencil-dyed illustrations, the reader is taken on a remarkable journey focussed on regional paper-makers and sharing all the technical processes necessary to making fine washi paper. English text accompanying the Japanese with the intention of broadening his reach. He notes at the end of the book that the paper-making towns he has depicted in his illustrations are dying out.