Ozu washi is handmade from the beautiful water of the clear Oda River. It is designated as a national traditional craft. Each sheet of washi is handmade by craftsmen and has been carefully nurtured and rooted in the local way of life. It is characterized by its use of kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata (mitsumata), gampi (gampi), hemp, bamboo, straw, and tororoaoi (mallow) as raw materials.
Among Ozu washi, calligraphy paper for kana (Japanese syllabary) made from mitsumata is the best in Japan in terms of quality and quantity, and is used by calligraphers throughout Japan.
It is also said that calligraphy paper made from mitsumata becomes even smoother and more durable after three to four years of use, giving it a unique flavor.
Seiyo City, located in the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture, was established in 2004 through the merger of five towns: four towns in Higashiuwa County (Uwa Town, Nomura Town, Jokawa Town, and Akihama Town) and one town in Nishiuwa County (Sanbei Town).
Of the five former towns, the former Uwa Town flourished as a post town for the Uwajima clan during the Edo period, and the historical landscape remaining in the center of the town (Unomachi) has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Uchiko Town is located in the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture. The town has promoted the development of a town with white walls and wooden wax.
Under the catchphrase "Ecology Town Uchiko," the town is known throughout Japan for its efforts in preserving the rural landscape, direct sales of agricultural products, overnight stays in rural villages, green tourism, and other activities to attract exchange visitors and revitalize primary industries.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Ozu Washi”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
The history of paper in Iyo (Ehime) is long, and its name can be found in the Engishiki, a collection of books and laws from the Heian period. According to the "KAMISUKI CHOHOKI" handed down at Takatsu Shrine in Shimane Prefecture, Kakihoninmaro, a poet of the Manyo period (710-794), introduced the art of paper making in Iwami no Kuni. The "Shi-zuki-juho-ki" describes in detail the process of harvesting kozo (paper mulberry) and tororoaoi, the raw materials for Ozu washi, and the preparation of the half-sheets of paper, and states that "the art was quickly introduced to Ozu in Iyo.
After many vicissitudes, during the Genroku era (1688-1704), Zennoshin Sosho introduced the technique of Echizen-hosho from Echizen, and taught it to the Ozu clan as a papermaking master.
As a result, Ozu washi flourished as a major industry within the domain, and since then, the Ozu domain has treated Ozu washi as a source of revenue for the domain. According to "Keizai Yoroku Vol. 10" by Sato Nobubuchi, an agricultural scientist in the late Edo period, Ozu washi was shipped to Osaka, where records show that it became increasingly valuable as "the best quality paper in Japan.
In the mid-Meiji period (1868-1912), many improved hanshi (half-sheets of paper) were produced, and paper production centering on mitsumata (mitsumata) became popular.
Between 1909 and 1916, many mills were built near the Oda River, the source of the clear water that is indispensable for papermaking. By the end of the Meiji period, it is said that the number of such mills reached 430.
However, with the development of mechanical civilization, the number decreased to 74 at the end of the war.
In October 1977, the crafts were designated as a traditional handicraft, and the craftsmen's spirit and techniques are passed down to the present day, although they have taken on a new form.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Ozu Washi”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
