Our Tosa Washi Workshop in Kochi, Japan
Inoue Tesuki Washi Workshop – A Traditional Tosa Washi Studio Continuing Since the Meiji Era (Tosa City, Kochi, Japan)
Inoue Tesuki Washi Workshop is a traditional handmade paper studio founded in the late Meiji era by the first-generation papermaker, Torahachi Inoue, in Takaoka Town, Tosa City, Kochi, Japan.
For over four generations, the Inoue family has preserved the art of Tosa Washi, supported by the pure waters of the Niyodo River, one of Japan’s clearest streams.
Even today, this small family-run workshop continues to share the timeless beauty of handmade paper crafted solely from natural materials.
Workshop introduction video
Our workshop was introduced in a Shikoku tourism promotion video.
(It's only a few seconds...)
This video is full of the charms of Shikoku, so please take a look.
The Spirit of Handmade Tosa Washi
Handmade washi paper has long been a quiet yet vital foundation supporting Japan’s civilization and culture.
From calligraphy and letters to ukiyo-e prints, woodblock art, and the elegant interiors of traditional homes—shoji and fusuma—Tosa Washi and other regional handmade papers were once indispensable in every aspect of daily life.
More than a century has passed since washi was an essential part of living.
Having fulfilled its role as a medium for communication and record preservation, it has gradually receded from modern lifestyles.
Paper itself has transformed—from something to keep and cherish, to something to use and consume.
Still, the art of Tosa Washi papermaking, with a history spanning over a thousand years, continues quietly along the Niyodo River in Tosa City, Kochi Prefecture.
Handmade washi remains a harmonious creation of nature’s blessings and human wisdom, renowned for its durability that can last a millennium and for its enduring ability to inspire a desire to pass its beauty on to future generations.
At the Inoue Tesuki Washi Workshop, founded in the late Meiji era, we continue to share the timeless appeal of handmade paper from our small family-run studio in Tosa City.
Through the hands-on experience of Japanese papermaking, we invite visitors to rediscover the profound connection between nature, tradition, and craftsmanship that defines the spirit of Tosa Washi.
History of Inoue Handmade Paper Workshop
Inoue Handmade Paper Workshop traces its origins back to the late Meiji period, when the first-generation founder, Torahachi Inoue, established a traditional handmade washi papermaking business in Takaoka Town, Tosashi.
The second-generation successor, Shigeko Inoue, expanded the scale of the workshop by hiring skilled artisans and further developed the production of Tosa washi deeply rooted in the local community.
The third-generation artisan, Toshio Inoue, began honing his craft as a washi maker in his teenage years. While preserving the traditions passed down through generations, he also brought new value to the craft. The washi he produced is known for being exceptionally thin and delicate yet remarkably strong. His paper gained national acclaim, especially for use in shoji screens, lanterns, hanging scrolls, and folding screen mountings.
Driven by his desire to “create genuine washi that will endure for future generations,” Toshio also dedicated himself to the research and development of washi for the restoration of Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures. As a result, his handmade paper has been used in the restoration of valuable cultural artifacts such as the Meigetsuki, Midō Kanpakuki, and Tosa Nikki, all dating back to the Kamakura period.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Toshio was designated in 1995 by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a "Certified Holder of Selected Conservation Techniques" for handmade paper used in restoring Important Cultural Properties. The following year, in 1996, he was also honored by Kochi Prefecture with the title "Tosa no Takumi" (Master Artisan of Tosa), an award recognizing excellence in traditional craftsmanship.
Toshio’s passion and belief—that handmade washi should remain a cultural tradition that connects to the future—continue to be the foundation of Inoue Handmade Paper Workshop, and are faithfully passed down to the next generation of artisans.
Workshop overview
Name
Tosa Washi Inoue Papermaking Workshop
Since
The first generation, Torahachi Inoue, began producing handmade washi paper in the late Meiji period, and is now the fourth generation.
Address
2776 Otsu, Takaoka-cho, Tosa City, Kochi Prefecture 781-1102
TEL/FAX
088-852-0207
Business content
Access & Location
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Wholesale sale of handmade Japanese paper
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Wholesale of handmade Japanese paper accessories and miscellaneous goods
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Experience events and workshops held
By Car:
Approximately 5 minutes from the Tosa Interchange (IC) on the Kochi Expressway.
By Public Transportation:
Take a bus from Asakura Station or Ino Station (about 20 minutes).
Get off at “Tosa City Hall” (Tosa Shiyakusho) bus stop.