Shopping in Japan

Wednesday evening the whole group of us went to Kawabata Shopping Street, like going shopping down one of our Korean markets/streets.  Though this street shopping was more spacious/wide streets.  And this shopping was inside individual stores (??  Kind of like shopping in Nampo up on the street, without all the booths set up outside of the stores??).

I was looking for washi or decorative paper (like the note left in our hotel room made with textured washi paper on the back with plain white paper on top that the print was on).  Here is a dictionary definition:

Washi 和紙 is a style of paper that was first made in Japan. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia chrysantha), or the paper mulberry, but also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat. The word "washi" comes from wa 'Japanese' and shi 'paper', and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner. It is a Japanese craft, part of the cultural heritage.  Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts. Origami and Shodo (is a form of calligraphy, or artistic writing, of the Japanese language) are both produced using washi.

Washi is produced in manual methods. It involves a long and intricate process that is often undertaken in the cold weather of winter, as pure, cold running water is essential to the production of washi. Cold inhibits bacteria, preventing the decomposition of the fibers. Cold also makes the fibres contract, producing a crisp feel to the paper. It is traditionally the winter work of farmers, a task that supplemented a farmer's income.

These papers are handmade using traditional methods, combining exceptional strength with rich color of dyed fibers in a variety of weights, tones, textures, finishes, and intense colors and patterns.  I happen to have chosen mostly solid color textured paper, but I also love the brightly patterned smooth paper.

We arrived at the street late enough, and the tradition of the merchants is such that they normally close their shops earlier in order to travel home taking such a long time.  As one of the shop keepers was closing his doors I was able to have one of the area secretaries ask the shop keeper to let me quickly go inside to look around.  I loved what I saw right at first, hurriedly chose these colorful sheets of paper, and had them rung up—with these other pictures taken as I was waiting.  I LOVE these colors!  I love the texture!  (Dad says this paper is impregnated with real leaves—doesn’t that sound like Dad using big words!?)