DESIGN

Kokontozai: KASHIYUKA’s Shop of Japanese Arts and Crafts — Kaga Mizuhiki Decorative Gift Envelope

『カーサブルータス』2024年4月号より

April 8, 2024 | Design | KASHIYUKA’s Shop of Japanese Arts and Crafts | photo_Keisuke Fukamizu hair & make-up_Masako Osuga editor_Masae Wako　translation_ Mika Yoshida & David G. Imber

Searching all of Japan for handcrafted items that express its heart and soul, our proprietor, KASHIYUKA, presents things that bring a bit of luxury to everyday life. This time she visited the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture. Here she encountered Kaga Mizuhiki, an exuberantly decorative handcraft that began in this town about 100 years ago, then spread throughout Japan.

With its 5th-generation leader, Mr. Rokusuke Tsuda at his studio, Tsuda Mizuhiki Orikata in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture. Our shopkeeper, KASHIYUKA asked, “what kinds of occasions are mizuhiki appropriate for?” Mr. Tsuda explained that “most are used as gift envelopes while many are just present as part of important commemorative events like yuinō, the ceremonial joining of families through marriage. Some are used to present gifts to persons overseas, as well.”

I’ve long thought about the uniquely Japanese wrapping technique that uses mizuhiki, a kind of cord with the thickness of filament, to enclose and secure gift envelopes and packages.

“Mizuhiki is formed from tightly twisted washi paper stiffened with water and rice paste. There are many theories about its origin, but the main one is that it is based on the red and white hemp string seen on gifts brought by envoys from China in the 7th century. Japanese saw these cords and interpreted them as simultaneously talismans to protect the voyagers on their journey by sea, a sign of friendship and consideration, and an indicator that the packages had not been opened in transit. This eventually evolved into a practice called mizuhiki orikata. Orikata refers to the formal wrapping of precious gifts and documents in washi paper. With these gestures, the practice of wrapping in washi, tying with mizuhiki, and writing one’s sentiments on the front of the envelope was established as convention,” explained the 5th-generation head of the Tsuda Mizuhiki Orikata workshop, Mr. Rokusuke Tsuda.

Purchase No. 71【Kaga Mizuhiki Shūgibukuro】Japanese wrapping culture conveys the grace of giving.

His shop and studio in the city of Kanazawa is lined with gorgeous, festive gift envelopes known as goshūgi-bukuro. They feature colorful decorations depicting cherry blossoms, butterflies, the ubiquitous traditional child’s toy ball called temari, as well as more sculptural decorations comprising cranes and pine trees so highly dimensional they seem real! This traditional handcraft from Kanazawa, taken as a whole, is called Kaga Mizuhiki, and it was invented around 1915 by the forebear of the current director, Sokichi Tsuda, the founder of Tsuda Mizuhiki Orikata.