Event Celebrating Osaki Washi

On October 1 and 2, the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto collaborated with The Japanese Paper Place for the event "Celebrating Osaki Washi" hosted by the latter in Toronto. The October 1 event featured demonstrations and presentations of works by Canadian artists using washi. The October 2 special talk welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Kataoka Akari and Hisanao from Osaki Paper Mill in Kochi Prefecture, the fourth-generation custodians of a papermaking tradition passed down through generations, who gave a detailed explanation of the raw materials, production process and tools used in traditional handmade washi (traditional Japanese paper) making, followed by a presentation of works by Canadian artists using washi. Consul-General Matsunaga, who attended the October 2 special talk, expressed that he was deeply moved by Ms. Kataoka Akari's words that her exchanges with Canada had been the driving force behind her dedication to washi papermaking.