Sekishu Washi Paper and the Local Lifestyle of Iwami

Information

[Exhibition Period] August 22(friday) – November 24, 2025(monday)

[Opening Hours] 9:30-18:00（Admission ends 30 mins. before closing time）

[Closed Days] Tuesdays (Open on September 23), September 24

[Venue] Gallery B

Overview

Our museum is located in the Iwami region of western Shimane Prefecture, which was renowned for producing high-quality paper during the Edo period. In the Tsuwano domain, paper production was used as a source of tax revenue for a long time, and paper produced in the Hamada domain was used for Osaka merchants’ ledgers. Handmade Japanese paper was closely intertwined with the daily lives of people in this region. It was used to make clothing and bedding by cutting it into strips and weaving them into thread, and to reinforce bamboo baskets by patching holes with paper. Although paper production remained active throughout the Meiji and Taisho periods, the spread of pulp paper and the shift towards purchasing clothing and household items led to a decline in the use of handmade paper in daily life after the war.

　This exhibition explores the history of Sekishu Washi, a traditional craft from the Iwami region that is now classified as a cultural property. It was once an integral part of people’s lives in the region. It features paper made around 100 years ago, woodblock prints used to identify paper, paper-making tools such as suketas, and paper clothing and textiles, providing insight into the regional context of paper production and people’s lives. Additionally, the exhibition will showcase artworks created using Iwami Washi paper following an exhibition at the Iwami Art Museum in 2016. These artworks offer a glimpse into the connection between traditional materials and contemporary expression.

Admission Fee

	Same-day tickets
General	300（240）
College & University Students	200（160）
High school students and younger	Free

Currency：Yen

※( ) indicates group rates for 20 or more people