6月のカレンダー　「小信夫」文　開板　江戸初期

信夫はシダ植物の一種で、木の樹皮に自生する生命力の強さから耐え忍ぶという意味合いを込め、忍ぶ草とも書きます。

繊細な表情が古くから日本人の好みに合い、衣料や武具、調度品などあらゆる物に文様として使われていました。

トピック◆新ページ「唐長の光琳大波と唐紙72選]　（ここ）

Karacho: A Treasurehouse of Woodblock Designs

Since it was established in 1624, Karacho has produced karakami (traditional Japanese paper printed with woodblocks) for fusuma sliding doors at noted temples, tea-ceremony rooms, and historical sites such as Katsura Imperial Villa. The Kyoto-based company also makes wallpaper and folding screens for traditional machiya townhouses.

At the beginning of its long history, Karacho, which has been overseen by the same family for 12 generations, produced paper for books designed by legendary artists such as Honami Koetsu and Tawaraya Sotastu. The company maintains a collection of 650 woodblocks, many of which were carved in the Edo Period (1603-1868) and are still in use today.