Creating heartwarming atmosphere with Gassan Washi lamps
Gassan Washi Akari Artist Ms. Mayumi Seino
When she was young, Ms. Mayumi Seino loved sports and played table tennis passionately. She still likes playing table tennis and teaches it to small children in her aera. After graduating from high school, she went to live in Tokyo. The first thing she started there was making desserts. She went to a vocational school and got a job, aiming to become a pastry chef. However, she was overworked and suffered badly from fatigue. She returned to her hometown to recuperate. It was during this time of rest and reflection she felt inspired by the warm feel of Gassan washi—traditional Japanese paper—that had been in her home for a long time. She enjoyed versatility of washi and created many forms by ripping and pasting together. She recalled that in her nursery school she made a mask by pasting ripped pieces of newspaper on a balloon. And that memory encouraged her to make a sphere out of washi. When she lit a light inside the sphere, soft and comforting globe of light was transmitted from the paper.
Washi Akari Artist was born
Thereafter, she dedicated herself to creating akari (lamps) using Gassan washi. From around 2000, she started displaying her washi akari in her parents’ traditional Japanese inn. She displayed them with natural objects such as acorns and tree branches, or amongst antique furniture. In time, many people asked her to teach how to make paper lamps, and so she decided to offer workshops. Furthermore, a furniture maker who worked for the inn asked her if she could exhibit her work in Sendai. The exhibition was so successful. That was when her career as a Gassan Washi Artist took off.
Encounter with Mr. Miura, a washi craftsperson
At the beginning Ms. Seino used old Gassan washi that her family had at home. But when she started teaching how to make paper lamps, she soon run out of washi. Therefore, sometimes she bought washi through acquaintances, other times she glued washi to drawing paper to make lamps. However, unfortunately, none of these remedies worked satisfactorily in creating the style she wanted. While she was searching for a solution, she met Mr. Kazuyuki Miura, who inherited Gassan washi papermaking in Oisawa.
“I was amazed by the quality and the variety of his washi. Notable differences are the beautiful fluff that appears when you rip it by hand and how easy it is to mold a shape by pasting together. I can’t revert to other papers anymore.”
Since then, Ms. Seino has used Mr. Miura’s washi to create her lamps. Mr. Miura is also inspired by her. He says that it is fun to experiment materials and colors to create washi that meets her needs.
Transmitting the charm of ripped washi
We asked Ms. Seino about the future of Gassan Washi Akari.
“I had thought that I had to take over the art of Gassan washi papermaking. But Ms. Naoko Shibuya became the successor of Mr. Miura, so I can continue to make lamps. I want local children to become aware of Gassan washi. I hope that the tradition of washi will survive and become a part of our daily lives.”
Ms. Seino says that she loves washi, and tearing it by hand warms her heart.
“In my workshop, first of all I ask the participants to tear washi to pieces by hand and to touch them. Then everyone gets absorbed in it, and quickly the atmosphere of the workshop becomes relaxed and harmonious. The charm of washi is endless.”
Ripped pieces of washi. Ripping it by hand warms one’s heart
Gassan Washi Akari Artist Ms. Mayumi Seino
Born in Nishikawamachi, Yamagata Prefecture. Her great-grandmother’s parents manufactured Gassan washi. Therefore, she became familiar with washi at an early age. After learning the art of pastry-making in a vocational school in Tokyo, she worked for a company. In 2000 she started to create lamps using Gassan washi at her parents’ traditional Japanese inn, Sendaiya. Originally inspired by a memory of making a mask by gluing torn pieces of newspaper on a balloon when she was in a nursery school many years before, she then developed her own techniques of making washi akari. The light passing through the soft yet strong texture of Gassan washi creates a heartwarming atmosphere.
facebook：Mayumi Seino of Gassan Washi Akari
Gassan Shizu Onsen Sendaiya Inn(Exhibits and sells Gassan Washi Akari lamps)
- 22 Oazashizu, Nishikawamachi, Nishimurayamagun, Yamagata 990-0734, Japan
- TEL：0237-75-2218
- HP https://www.sendaiya.jp/
Ms. Mayumi Seino’s artwork are on sale in Kizuki.japan ONLINE SHOP
