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⻄嶋和紙の歴史

History of Nishijima Washi

⻄嶋和紙の発祥は、⻄暦１５７１年に始まると記録に残されています。
⼭紫⽔明の地、甲斐の⻄嶋で⽣まれた望⽉清兵衛が国主武⽥信⽞の任により、
伊⾖国⽥⽅郡⽴野村（現・静岡県伊⾖市修善寺町）で
三椏（みつまた）を原料とした「修善寺紙」の製法を学び、
故郷に⼿漉き紙の技法を伝えて以来、四百有余年の歴史を重ねてきました。

Records indicate that the origins of Nishijima Washi date back to 1571.
Seibei Mochizuki, who was born in the picturesque area of Nishijima in Kai, was ordered
by the lord Takeda Shingen to learn the craft of making Shuzenji washi paper from
mitsumata paper mulberry trees in the village of Tatsuno, Tagata District,
Izu no Kuni (today Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture).
He then brought these papermaking techniques back to his hometown,
and a history of more than 400 years was born.

現在は書道⽤和紙の産地として名を成し
「墨⾊の発⾊」「にじみ⼯合」「筆ざわり」等に特に優れていることから
⻄嶋和紙は全国の書道家や書道愛好家に珍重・愛⽤されています。

Today it is famous for the production of washi paper used in calligraphy,
which offers outstanding ink coloration, blotting, and brush strokes.
Nishijima washi paper is prized and used by calligraphers and calligraphy enthusiasts throughout Japan.

⻄島和紙⼯房

Nishijima Washi Studio

⻄島和紙⼯房は、⼭梨県身延町⻄島にあります。身延町は東に富⼠⼭を望み、中央に⽇本三⼤急流の⼀つである富⼠川が流れる美しい⾃然環境に恵まれた⼟地です。

Nishijima Washi Studio is located in Nishijima, Minobu Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. With views of Mount Fuji to the east and the Fuji River, one of Japan's three fastest-flowing rivers, running through its center, Minobu Town is blessed with natural beauty.

身延町⻄嶋の紙屋に産まれた私は書道⽤の画仙紙を漉いていました。
同じ厚さで、均⼀なきれいな紙を⼀⽇に何百枚と漉きながら腕を磨く⽇々。
1989年、和紙の新たな可能性を求めて独⽴し⻄島和紙⼯房を設⽴しました。
その後、東京の美⼤でガラス造形を学び⼭梨でガラスを吹いていた英と連れ合いになり
ふたりで新たな紙づくりを始めました。現在、⻄島和紙⼯房では⻑い伝統の確かな技術を礎とし
素材を⼤切に活かした紙づくりをしています。
楮(こうぞ)や三椏を原料にして紙を漉き⼭野に⾃⽣する草⽊を材料や染料に使います。
優しさや、温もりや、⾃然の息吹を感じられるようなオリジナルデザインの紙づくりのために、
紙漉き道具も⾃分たちで作ります。

I was born into a paper-making family in Nishijima, Minobu Town.
I made gasenshi (Chinese Xuan paper) for calligraphy. I honed my skills by producing hundreds of
sheets of uniform and beautiful paper of the same thickness each day.
In 1989, I went independent and established Nishijima Washi Studio in the search for new possibilities for washi.
Later, I became acquainted with Ei, who studied glassmaking at an art university in Tokyo and
practiced glass blowing in Yamanashi, and together we launched a new paper-making workshop.
Nishijima Washi Studio now crafts paper that carefully utilizes materials based on long-established traditional techniques.
We make our paper from the kozo and mitsumata trees and use wild grasses and trees for materials
and dyes.We also make our own papermaking tools to create paper with original designs that convey
gentleness, warmth, and the breath of nature.

私たちの紙を⼿に取ってくれたひとが、楽しくなったり、⽣活に潤いを得たり、

そんな⼿助けが少しでもできればと思いながら⽇々紙づくりをしています

We make our paper every day with the hope that it will add a little joy and enrichment to the lives of the people who use it.

私たちの紙を⼿に取ってくれたひとが、

楽しくなったり、⽣活に潤いを得たり、

そんな⼿助けが少しでもできればと思いながら

⽇々紙づくりをしています

We make our paper every day with the hope that it will add a little joy and enrichment to the lives of the people who use it.