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Nancy Jacobi is the Founder of The Japanese Paper Place in Toronto, a business which she began 40 + years ago after her discovery of paper’s potential while teaching English in Japan. By supplying washi worldwide, offering workshops, lectures and exhibitions, the company continues its mission to encourage creativity by highlighting the potential of this too little-understood, powerful but endangered resource.
This magnetic gallery wall at the Japanese Paper Place displays some of the print collection. Left to right: Naoko Matsubara – woodcut on Kurotani kozo; Brian Kelley – reduction woodcut on Seikosen mitsumata; Kanji Nishimatsu – woodcut of WH Auden poem on kozo nagaban; Milt Jewel – encaustic monoprint on Fukunishi udagami.
Susan Ruptash, 365, various heritage washi with linen thread, 46″ x 36″ x 3″
Susan Ruptash’s mobile sculpture “365” hangs in the showroom window. In order to distinguish the papers traditionally made and of the highest quality for both conservation and artistic use, The Japanese Paper Place uses the term Heritage Washi. To be named this way, the paper must be:
- made of 100% Japanese-grown fibre such as kozo, gampi or mitsumata,
- cooked in soda ash, lime or wood ash – and NOT caustic soda,
- made using natural formation aid of tororo-aoi or noriutsugi,
- unbleached except by sun or water (no use of chlorine),
- and formed by hand by highly experienced makers.
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We talked about Oguni Washi. These are some Oguni papers: shikishi and snowbleached oguniban.
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Here are glimpses into The Japanese Paper Place showroom and warehouse in Toronto.
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Nancy Jacobi’s recommendations:
- The Japanese Paper Place is primarily a wholesaler. If you are interested in any of their papers, fill out the Where to Buy form and they will respond via email with either a fitting reseller or the option to buy from them directly. Their retail order minimum is $150 within the US and $100 within Canada.
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You can find out more about The Japanese Paper Place on their website and on Instagram.
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Music featuring excerpts of Makin’ Paper folk song by Peter Thomas. Listen to the full song and find out about other paper and book arts folk songs.
Gary A. Hanson did the sound editing for this episode. He practices and refines his skills in audio production while making his own podcast I’ll Have a Beer and Talk, a show about tech news, culture, weird animal stories and of course, beer. Gary is also the Deckle in Pulp & Deckle, a Portland-based community hand papermaking studio.
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