Hiromi Paper International

Spring 2008, Volume 14, No. 2

Tosa Washi Shodo Tournament

In Japan, one use of washi is for Japanese calligraphy—this is known as shod. In the past, Japanese characters were written down with sumi ink and a brush, but in modern days very few people write calligraphy on a daily basis, and it has come to be viewed as an art.

Since the olden days, Japan has the tradition of writing calligraphy at the beginning of a new year. We have the annual Tosa Washi Shod Tournament in which children from different towns compete to show their best calligraphy on washi. Someday, these children will grow up and proudly remember the washi that their town created. I also hope that they will understand better their Japanese culture through this use of washi.

SATOSHI HASEGAWA
Kochi Washi Coop

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The World of Washi newsletter is published quarterly by Hiromi Paper Inc., 2525 Michigan Avenue, BergamotStation Unit #G-9, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Tel: (310) 998-0098 Fax: (310) 998-0028 e-mail: info@hiromipaper.com

Items for publication should be sent to the Editors at this address. Editors: Hiromi Katayama and Silvia Capistran.