Japan’s gorgeously patterned paper

The Manila Times

Japan’s gorgeously patterned paper  Chiyogami is a style of paper originating in traditional handmade washi, that's decorated with colorful designs taken from nature. It's still made by traditional methods in workshops, some dating back to the 19th century. Over 1,000 patterns are in use, applied either by brush or by woodblock printing. Used in origami, this paper is now becoming popular overseas too. In Japan, it's also widely used as a craft paper for making stationary items and ornaments.  VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN   Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net  Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion  Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #TheManilaTimes #DailyNews #Japan #Chiyogami #Paper #Colorful #Pattern #Origami

Transcript

00:00 [ Music ]

00:07 Chiyo-agami is a style of Japanese paper decorated

00:10 with colorful designs taken from nature.

00:12 It started with people painting

00:18 on traditional handmade washi paper.

00:20 And grew to become a craft tradition itself

00:27 with an enormous variety of delightful patterns.

00:30 This Chiyo-agami workshop has been making the paper

00:38 since the mid-19th century.

00:39 The owner, Kobayashi Kazuo, takes pride

00:46 in using the traditional techniques handed

00:48 down through four generations of his family.

00:50 The main thing about Chiyo-agami is the designs.

00:56 They're all based on the beauty we find in nature.

00:58 We use two methods to apply them.

01:02 Directly with a brush and by printing in woodblock style.

01:06 In the first method, a special brush is used

01:11 to apply the base color.

01:12 To do this evenly requires much skill and experience.

01:16 Then the patterns are brushed on.

01:23 Everything is done by hand.

01:24 So no two pieces of Chiyo-agami are ever identical.

01:28 [ Music ]

01:38 The second method uses traditional woodblock

01:40 printing techniques.

01:41 It's done in three stages.

01:43 Each handled by a specialist artisan.

01:45 One draws a design.

01:47 One carves it onto the block.

01:48 And another makes the print.

01:53 The process is repeated numerous times

01:55 to make a multicolored print.

01:57 A separate block must be carved for each color.

02:03 The more colors we use, the harder it gets.

02:08 The three artisans making each piece must work as one.

02:12 Otherwise the images won't line up.

02:15 This is a traditional depiction of the seven gods of fortune.

02:21 [ Music ]

02:24 In addition to such illustrations,

02:26 Chiyo-agami artisans use over 1,000 different patterns.

02:30 [ Music ]

02:37 This colorful, versatile paper is widely used

02:39 in crafts like doll making.

02:41 [ Music ]

02:47 Chiyo-agami adds color and beauty to anything.

02:50 It just makes people happy.

02:52 It's a wonderful thing.

02:54 Chiyo-agami became popular in the 18th century following the

02:59 widespread introduction of woodblock printing.

03:01 People soon began using it for many things including origami.

03:05 [ Music ]

03:10 This paper is easily folded and formed to create shapes

03:13 like animals and plants.

03:15 [ Music ]

03:19 Kobayashi uses origami classes to popularize Chiyo-agami.

03:23 [ Music ]

03:26 Today his students from overseas are making origami

03:29 samurai helmets.

03:31 [ Music ]

03:36 Everyone is fascinated by these unique Japanese designs.

03:40 People everywhere appreciate quality.

03:43 This was the first time for me to see and work

03:47 with real traditional Chiyo-agami.

03:49 I think the colors and designs are so beautiful.

03:53 It was also my first time to make origami properly.

03:57 I had a great time and it was a wonderful experience.

04:00 This beautiful and versatile paper is used

04:05 in a wide variety of handicrafts.

04:07 [ Music ]

04:09 You can see it on boxes for storing small items, calendars,

04:14 notebooks, writing paper, and other stationary items.

04:19 [ Music ]

04:22 And all kinds of ornaments for the home.

04:26 There are countless ways the Japanese paper craft

04:28 of Chiyo-agami can add color to our lives.

04:32 [ Music ]

04:34 [ Silence ]

04:40 [ Music ]

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