Kurotani-cho, Ayabe City, Kyoto prefecture, is a mountain village surrounded by mountains and clear water flowing from the Kurotani River.
We visited the Kurotani Washi village with the intention of crafting Japanese umbrella using washi paper, a material that has been utilized in Kyoto since ancient times..

As you walk along the riverside path, you hear the sound of “kattan-kotton,” the rhythmic sound of papermaking.
It is said that approximately 800 years ago, fallen warriors of the Heike clan, defeated in battle, escaped their pursuers and took refuge in the mountainous countryside. They began papermaking to support their livelihood, and the village flourished as a renowned papermaking community.

Kurotani Washi is made from high quality Kozo (paper mulberry), and entire processes from raw material treatment to processing are done by hand, resulting in a strong paper.
In particular, the papermaking process is handmade, and each sheet is finished by the hands of craftsmen who have preserved the tradition.
The Kurotani Washi technique, which is durable, strong, and long-lasting, was designated an intangible cultural asset of Kyoto prefecture in 1983.
The beauty of Kurotani Washi tells of a rigorous manufacturing process beyond imagination, and their sense of mission to protect and nurture Kurotani Washi overlaps with our passion for Japanese umbrella, resulting in the collaboration between Kurotani Washi and Tsujikura.
Tsujikura craftsmen receive handmade Kurotani Washi and make it into one Japanese umbrella.
It takes a long time to complete its production because most of the work is done by hand.
Among the many processes, “Hari,” in which washi paper is stretched over the frame, is one of the most important processes in terms of creating the shape of the Japanese umbrella.
The process of stretching paper over each part of the frame of a Japanese umbrella is not visible from the outside, but it is extremely important for the umbrella to open and close properly.

With the aspiration of preserving the traditions and culture that have been passed down through generations in Japan and transmitting them to future generations, the papermakers and umbrella craftsmen are dedicated to their daily work.
The combination of two traditional crafts, along with numerous meticulous processes, has resulted in the creation of exquisite umbrellas that emphasize authenticity, using Kurotani Washi.
We are pleased to offer you the finest products of “Kyoto Kurotani Washi” and “Kyoto Wagasa Shop Tsujikura”.