Traditional Japanese Paper – Jarman International KK

The Jarman International-organized livestream with John Daub, Alex Kerr and Rogier Uitenboogaart was featured in the Japan Times! (Kochi Prefecture)

Hana — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:43:33 +0000

In late November, Jarman International organized a livestream with JI Core 50 member and YouTuber John Daub of ONLY in JAPAN * GO, world-renowned American author Alex Kerr, and washi paper master Rogier Uitenboogaart from the mountain town of Yusuhara in Kochi Prefecture.

The livestream featured a live book reading by Alex of his very own “Lost Japan” best-seller book, which offers a fascinating insight into the Japanese landscape, culture, history and future, based on his several decades of living in the country.

Alex discusses his thoughts on how Japan has changed over the past years, and continues to evolve. As more young people move to cities, there are multitudes of traditional Japanese crafts, architecture, thought, and knowledge that are soon to disappear. Joining in the conversation is the owner of Kamikoya Washi Studio in Yusuhara who moved to Japan from the Netherlands 40 years ago to learn the art of washi-making, which is a traditional Japanese paper. He offers his reasons for moving to Japan to help preserve the traditional craft, while John also shares his view on how he has seen the country shift based on his extensive travel across all 47 prefectures.

This is a precious, once-in-a-lifetime conversation among some of the brightest internationals in Japan, which is sure to offer you a deeper look into Japan’s past, present and future.

Check out the livestream HERE.

The livestream was briefly featured in the Sustainable Japan by the Japan Times (December Edition) HERE.

The post The Jarman International-organized livestream with John Daub, Alex Kerr and Rogier Uitenboogaart was featured in the Japan Times! (Kochi Prefecture) appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Three works by Dutch washi master Rogier Uitenboogaart was chosen as interior decorations for one of Kochi’s leading construction companies

Hana — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 23:49:03 +0000

Jarman International has been supporting the work of Rogier Uitenboogaart who arrived in Japan 40 years ago from the Netherlands, to learn the ins and outs of making traditional Japanese paper called washi. In 2006, Rogier started his own Kamikoya Washi Studio (かみこや) located on the slope of the Shikoku Karst Mountains in Yusuhara, Kochi Prefecture, becoming a true master of the craft. Today, Kamikoya is also a guesthouse, which offers visitors an opportunity to experience washi-making themselves, surrounded by the serenity and grace of Kochi’s countryside.

In early June, three of Rogier’s works were chosen as interior decorations for the opening ceremony of a new model house for Futagami, one of Kochi’s leading construction companies, which also operates DIY shops, car supply stores, and more.

Rogier’s washi-making process is an almost entirely handmade craft. He uses a variety of plants such as the bark of mulberry trees and vegetable okra in a very sustainable way, where nothing is fully wasted. Although the conversation around sustainable living is becoming more common, it feels quite rare to actually find aspects of this lifestyle implemented in our day-to-day. However, the selection of Rogier’s environmentally friendly artworks by a large corporation seems to be a step of hope and possibility in the right direction.

Read more about Kamikoya: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/activities/10158

Rogier’s Official Website: http://rogier.jp/

The post Three works by Dutch washi master Rogier Uitenboogaart was chosen as interior decorations for one of Kochi’s leading construction companies appeared first on Jarman International KK.