Japanese Origami Techniques with Atelier Kanawa

2008-03-11T11:30:00Z

Atelier Kanawa is a Japanese Etsy seller who specializes in creating traditional and modern Japanese pieces based on Kimono, Geisha/classical Japanese dance, Tsumami Kanzashi and Bingata/Katazome Kimono dyeing techniques. She is passionate about honoring and educating others about the traditional crafting techniques within her culture which have been passed down in her family over the course of many generations. In this article, she shares some of her knowledge about origami and she even made some videos showing us some of her techniques!

Origami
The word “Origami” is constructed of two words. “Ori” meaning “to fold,” and “Gami” meaning “paper.” Origami is a well-respected art form in which paper folding techniques are used to create animals, plants or daily tools.

In most cases, only one piece of square paper is used to fold Origami, but there are many more advanced techniques which require two or more sheets of paper and scissors. The most popular Japanese Origami pieces are the crane, balloon, airplane, Kabuto (armor), and Shuriken.

Chiyo-Gami
There are many different types of origami paper available today; one is "Chiyo (a very long period)-gami (paper)." Chiyo-gami paper was traditionally created by hand with the highest quality Japanese paper, and also hand dyed by woodblock print, one color at a time, just like Kimono fabric. It took several days to produce one paper and about five years to become a Chiyo-gami master.

Chiyo-gami was a luxury only enjoyed by members of the Imperial Palace or used for calligraphy by the Japanese upper class. Ordinary citizens were not able to afford Chiyo-gami until after the Edo period when Chiyo-gami spread from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo). It began to be sold by artists who created colorful woodcut prints called Nishiki, who applied their more efficient printing techniques to create a more affordable Chiyo-gami.

Chouju Giga
Chouju Giga, the oldest Manga in Japan, is a national treasure scroll at the Kouzan-ji temple in Kyoto. The scroll consists of 4 volumes, Kou (甲), Otsu (乙), Hei (丙), and Chou (丁). Today, Kou (甲) and Hei (丙) can be found at the Tokyo national museum, while Otsu (乙) and Chou (丁) are displayed at the national museum in Koyoto.

Although unproven, it is said that Chouju Giga was painted by Tobasoujo-kakuyu (鳥羽僧正覚猷) as well as several unknown painters during the 12th to 13th century. It is thought that priests painted the heartwarming collective of sorrowful social conditions represented in the satiric caricatures of Chouju Giga. The most popular volume is Otsu (甲) which displays personification of rabbits, frogs, and monkeys.

VIDEOS:
How to fold Origami: Japanese crane

How to fold Origami : Toothpick Holder

How to fold Origami: Chopsticks Holder

How to fold Origami: Decorative Box

Chiyogami / Origami Creations by Atelier Kanawa

FURTHER RESOURCES:
Origami
The history of Origami in Japan
Chiyogami
Chouju Giga

Be sure to check out Atelier Kanawa's previous Storque article about other traditional Japanese crafts.

Traditional Japanese Crafts with Atelier Kanawa

2007-09-27T10:31:00Z

I run Atelier Kanawa (which means "studio to play Japanese harmony & peace") and I would love to share my stories of my ancestors who were in Kimono business and how I am trying to keep these traditions alive.

My great grandfather was an artisan who dyed Kimono designs, mainly Yukata, the Summer Kimono. My grandmother was a Kimono tailor, and both my mother and my aunt graduated from Kimono academy. My aunt has been teaching Kimono classes in Japan.

Since January in 2005, I have been studying Kimono and dressing with them myself. And since March 2006, I have been learning to dress other people. Currently, I am preparing to officially become a certified Kimono Consultant/adviser of All Japan Kimono Consultant Association through "Sodo" Kimono Academy, in October, 2007. I accomplished the beginner's level 1, level 2, and also the intermediate level. I am now in the advanced course. You can read the biography of my principal Mr. Norio Yamanaka (also an appointed chairman of the All Japan Kimono Consultants Association) has published a biography.

I also study how to dye Kimono designs by Bingata Katazome, which is the traditional Japanese method of dyeing fabric in Okinawa (southern part of Japan), using a resist paste applied through stencil. The term is comes from a combination of Kata (pattern or stencil), and Zome, from the verb Someru (to dye). Bingata Katazome deal with all natural ingredients for ink, brush, and fabric.

I am also pursuing classical Japanese dance by Hanayagi-style, which includes Geisha dance, Noh, and Kabuki.

Lastly, I passionately pursue Tsumami Kanzashi, a traditional Japanese long ornamental hairpin.

Today, there are ONLY 15 acknowledged Tsumami Kanzashi artisans in the whole world. Most of them don't have successors to carry out this beautiful traditional art, so it is RAPIDLY dying out. I was blessed to be accepted as a private pupil by one of them in this summer, even though my master does not train anybody anymore due to serious illness. That meant so much to me that my master passionately taught me everything, because he wants this authentic art to remain in this world. I can not even put in words how much I was honored to inherit my master's spirit.

Today, I deeply regard my ancestors who were in Kimono business. I passionately strive to pass this "disappearing culture" on to the next generation throughout the world. I will be very happy if you enjoy my authentic Japanese art work.

The first technique I'd like to describe is called Tsumami Kanzashi.

Tsumami (pinching) is the technique which to pinch/pick up a two dimensional piece of silk fabric to construct a three dimensional object. Tsumami consists of only two types of method called Maru-Tsumami (round pinching) and Ken-Tsumami (sword pinching).

Traditionally, we use Habutae silk in Japan to make Tsumami, but there is an artisan who uses Chirimen silk also. I use both of them and some other types of fabric and Vintage Kimono fabric.

Since the middle of Edo period (1603-1867), this handcraft technique has been traditionally utilized by maidservants in the imperial court as their hobby. Eventually, this beautiful technique was recognized by the Japanese society, and then it began to be used to produce Kanzashi hairpins, sticks, combs and so on. You can see Tsumami Kanzashi in Ukiyoe pictures. To give you some context: during that time period, Beethoven was quite active in music industry!

Today, not only Maiko (those young girls who are under the training to become Geisha) wear them, but they are worn by Japanese women for new year celebrations, celebrations for children called "Shichi-Go-San" (a coming-of-age ceremony), weddings, and by those people who perform traditional Japanese dance.

Tsumami Kanzashi is made to show mainly the beauty of four seasons. For example, Maiko wear plum flower in February, cherry blossom in April, and chrysanthemum in October.

Since there are ONLY 15 acknowledged artisans of Tsumami Kanzashi the whole world today and they don't really have any successors, it means a lot to me to be sharing this information with you. You can see the process I use to make my items in the videos I've made below:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

FURTHER RESOURCES:

See an interview with me about my story and work.

See a video slideshow of my work here.

Tsumami Kanzashi Museum

Edo Tsumami Kanzashi documentary video

Atelier Kanawa's Youtube page

ABOUT HABUTAE (羽二重)SILK

This is the plain woven silk textile of authentic Japanese vintage Kimono. Habutae silk has a very smooth textures as soft, light and shiny, so they are used as Kimono linings. In Japan, we say "the best silk starts with Habutae and also ends with Habutae." Habutae silk proudly represents Japan.

ABOUT CHIRIMEN (縮緬) SILK

Chirimen silk crepe became popular from 17th to 18th century in Japan. Its distinctive technique involves twisting the threads during weaving. It has a slightly textured surface, so it is heavier and stronger than an ordinary plain weave.

Storque articles by AtelierKanawa

Japanese Origami Techniques with Atelier Kanawa

Traditional Japanese Crafts with Atelier Kanawa