The Art and Craft of Japanese Washi | Shogado Yasuhiro Matsuo〈Washi Products〉

Shogado was founded in 1964 as a wholesale dealer of shikishi/tanzaku and Japanese books in Kyoto.
They supply washi products, including shikishi/tanzaku and Japanese notebooks, primarily to calligraphy specialty stores, art supply stores, and stationery stores nationwide.

Continuing to Evolve Japanese Washi

The core material, washi, is sourced from Japanese production areas, including Echizen (Fukui Prefecture). As professionals in washi product manufacturing, they create products that leverage the unique characteristics of washi from various regions.

In recent years, they have become a comprehensive manufacturer of designed Japanese stationery, producing numerous hit products that have gained recognition even overseas.

What Arises from the Fusion of Washi and Design

The "Goshuincho" (seal book), with its beautiful Yuzen paper cover featuring traditionally patterned modern designs, is also popular as a Japanese notebook.



They also participated in the "Atarashiki Mono Kyoto" project, organized by the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for which I provide product development support, and unveiled the "Watoji Clock," a clock utilizing washi and Japanese bookbinding techniques.



They have released many series of Japanese stationery products that showcase the beauty of washi, such as the uniquely shaped multi-purpose notebook "Kadotojicho" and the collapsible "Tojihako," all featuring iconic Japanese bookbinding techniques used in traditional Japanese books, offering a pleasant tactile experience and highlighting the beauty of washi.

I look forward to the products that will continue to emerge from Shogado, who act as producers continually evolving Japanese washi.