Obara - Obara

The village was formerly called Obara Village in Nishikamo District, in the central north of Aichi Prefecture. It is currently a district in the northern part of Toyota City. It was incorporated into Toyota City in 2005. It is a mountain village bordering Gifu Prefecture, and is famous for its art and craft washi paper, Obara Washi. National Route 419 passes through the village. In addition to rice farming, chicken eggs and mushrooms such as shiitake and maitake mushrooms are cultivated. Obara Washi is a unique washi paper craft that makes use of Mikawa Morishita paper, a washi paper used for umbrellas since the Edo period, and was created under the guidance of art and craft artist Fujii Tatsukichi (from Hekinan City). Fujii focused on the manufacturing method of Morishita paper, which is made from paper mulberry, and taught the young people of the village the unique techniques of washi paper craft, which combine papermaking, dyeing, and design. Among these young people have come several Nitten artists, including judges for the Nitten exhibition.

[Gohei Ito]

"Obara Village Journal (1964, Obara Village)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

愛知県中北部、西加茂郡(にしかもぐん)にあった旧村名（小原村(むら)）。現在は豊田(とよた)市の北部を占める一地区。2005年（平成17）豊田市に編入。岐阜県と接する山村で、美術工芸和紙の「小原和紙」が有名。国道419号が通る。米作のほか、鶏卵、シイタケやマイタケなどのキノコ栽培が盛ん。小原和紙は江戸時代からあった番傘用の和紙「三河森下(みかわもりした)紙」を生かした独特な和紙工芸で、美術工芸家の藤井達吉(ふじいたつきち)（碧南(へきなん)市出身）の指導によって生まれた。藤井はコウゾを原料とする森下紙の製法に着目し、村の青年たちに、独特な紙漉(す)き、染め、図案などを総合した和紙工芸の技術を教えた。青年たちのなかからは日展審査員を含む日展作家数名も輩出している。

［伊藤郷平］

『『小原村誌』（1964・小原村）』

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