Trained as artist and painter, Wataru Hatano moved to Kurotani in the northern Kyoto Prefecture 17 years ago. Fascinated by the texture and durability of the Kurotani Washi (traditional Japanese paper), he decided to learn the skill and become a papermaker himself.
The Kurotani area is famous for its many Kouzo trees (paper mulberry tree) and its clean, fresh water, which form the raw materials for washi. For over 800 years, traditional paper making skills have been developed in this area. Wataru Hatano’s contributions to the washi craft and the art world along with his dedication to the material are driven by his ambition of keeping the traditional art alive by creating more awareness about it and educating the next generation in the art. With a production unit that harvests the raw materials, produces the paper, and then transforms it into works of art as well as functional objects, Wataru Hatano is a man on a mission.
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