Breathing Life into Paper: Daruma Born from Recycled Materials

At the entrance of the workshop stood a large, unpainted daruma. Its white, dry form resembled a vessel waiting to be brought to life.

"This paper was originally used for trays at a mayonnaise factory," Shimizu explains, holding the material in his hand.

Over a decade ago, following an avian flu outbreak, paper used in food factories was mandated to be discarded after a single use. For sanitary reasons, this paper had nowhere to go, so daruma artisans began repurposing it as a new material.

Previously, the main material was domestic recycled paper from sources like manju boxes and candy packaging. However, as these resources began to flow overseas, domestic recycled paper became harder to obtain. It was during this time that they discovered this new material.

"Thankfully, it was right when we were running short on paper. The quality was smooth and well-suited for molding daruma," he says.

However, the paper fibers are a bit too weak to be used on their own. Shimizu creates the ideal texture by blending it with traditional recycled paper.

"If you only use strong paper, the surface becomes rough, but if you only use weak paper, the shape won't hold. By skillfully mixing both, you bring out the best qualities of each."

He tears the paper by hand, soaks it in water, and feels the texture of the fibers with his fingertips. The slightest difference affects the final product, so the blend ratio is adjusted daily based on temperature and humidity. It's a world of sensation that can't be measured by numbers—the true realm of an artisan.