OKAMURA (Kichiemon).
Aizu atsushio-shi jigen [Divine expressions of paper from Aizu Atsushio]
"Handicrafts are great blessings given by God"
A lovely Okamura Kichiemon production on his recurring theme of local craft traditions across Japan. This title, which is a slightly smaller format to usual, takes an intimate look at paper-making in Aizu.
Aizu is located in the northern prefecture of Fukushima, which is especially known for its atsushio-onsen (salt water hot springs). The present title focuses on paper made in this region, which is affected by the local salt water. The book is accompanied by a loosely inserted message from Okamura in both Japanese and English, in which he writes:
“Handicrafts are great blessings given by God. Festivals and observances are the expressions of people who serve God”.
It is interesting how, in this title, Okamura connects craft to the divine – titling the book ‘jigen’. It is difficult to translate this word, but it is sometimes referred to as a ‘divine manifestation’. Owing to the context provided my Okamura in the slip of paper, we have loosely translated this word in the title to ‘divine expressions’.
Rare. Only 2 copies in OCLC outside of Japan (McGill and UC Berkeley).
