Position: Representative Director
Date of Birth: Born in October 1968
Hometown: Kochi Prefecture
Education: Graduated from Seattle University Albers School of Business & Economics
Career: After 8 years in field and sales roles, took current position in 2016.
Awarded the Innovation Technology Award, Grand Prize at the 2011 Shikoku Industrial Technology Awards hosted by the Shikoku Industry & Technology Promotion Center.
Awarded the Japan Creation Award 2017, Japan's Skilled Techniques Award hosted by the Japan Fashion Association in 2017.
Awarded the 8th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Prize, Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award in 2020, hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Hobbies: Rakugo appreciation
Personal Motto: Composed in success, calm in adversity
Expanding Recognition as Cultural Property Restoration Paper Both Domestically & Internationally
The history of Hidakawashi began in 1949 with the establishment of the Export Tengujo Paper Cooperative (輸出典具帖紙協同組合). Originally, it was an organization of farmers who made paper during the winter off-season."In the past, we made each sheet by hand, but as times changed, the demand for easily processed roll paper increased. We decided to move towards mechanized production due to the limitations of hand-making, leading to the establishment of our company in 1969. For some time, we operated in parallel with both hand-making and machine production, but gradually the latter became more dominant."
Initially, the company focused on OEM products such as wrapping paper and shoji screens, but business declined due to the simplification of packaging. Additionally, the Westernization of homes reduced the number of Japanese rooms and shoji screens, leading to decreased demand for washi.
"In contemplating how to survive, we turned our attention to cultural properties. We diligently continued to engage with corporations while learning about the industry of cultural properties. As we built connections one by one, we eventually attracted interest from restorers studying abroad who came to learn about cultural heritage restoration.
"We also conducted workshops overseas to raise awareness of Tosa Tengujo paper, which, thankfully, spread through word of mouth."
In recent years, the preservation status of Japan's historical texts and paintings has begun to attract attention for being significantly superior to that of other countries, leading to the reputation of the base paper made from kozo.
"We create not just ordinary 'paper,' but 'materials' that protect culture." The washi produced under this philosophy has received high acclaim as restoration paper from libraries and museums both in Japan and abroad. Today, they supply washi to cultural heritage institutions in Europe, North America, and South America, with a record of usage in UNESCO's Memory of the World.
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