From February 8th to the 12th, I went to Germany for the Ambiente Frankfurt Trade Fair. The Ambiente Frankfurt is the largest exhibition of paper and stationery in the world. This trade fair gathers people from all over the world, but primarily the attendees are European. This was the first time that we had a booth at Ambiente Frankfurt.
This year, the washi-related exhibitors were represented by Echizen Washi, Daiinshu of Tottori, Taneguchi Washi, and ourselves at Sugihara Washi.
The main attraction was a really large, handmade paper gate with lights (it was over 20 feet long). Guests entered the Japanese exhibition pavilion through our large washi gate. We showed visitors products which used washi such as our gate (large-size paper with watermark at a size of 6x9 feet), as well as simple inkjet papers. Other washi-related products which were shown included washi umbrellas, washi screens and even a sofa made completely of washi.
This chance to be in the Ambiente Frankfurt Trade Fair was a good way for Japanese papermakers to show the different options for European people for washi. Also, it was a great way for us to get the true reactions of Japanese paper directly from people in Europe.
