What makes this encounter particularly meaningful is that we had just visited Nishida Washi Workshop, where we discovered how locally grown kōzo fibres are transformed into traditional Sekishu Washi (石州和紙).
Yu Yamauchi explained that she also works with this regional handmade paper, creating a beautiful connection between the two ateliers.
At Nishida Washi, we witnessed the transformation of plants into paper. Here, at Shifuori Yamauchi, we discovered the next chapter: paper carefully cut, twisted into thread, and woven into cloth.
From plant to paper, from paper to thread, from thread to textile. Two artisans, two distinct practices, yet connected through the same material and the same landscape.
This continuity fascinates me. It reveals how craftsmanship is not simply about individual objects, but about relationships between people, places, knowledge, and generations.
For my own research into Akiya and the future of existing materials, this encounter offers a valuable perspective: transformation does not necessarily mean replacing what already exists. Sometimes, it means discovering another possibility within it.
But this visit was actually too short, and we promised will be back to revisit her elegant atelier.
Shifuori Yamauchi — 紙布織 山内 Yu Yamauchi | Kawamoto, Shimane, Japan
Website: https://shifuori.com/
Related Journal: Nishida Washi Workshop —
From Farm to Paper www.nishida-washi.com