Stories of Washi and the Earth

December 29th
I was invited as a guest
on the channel of Washi artist Kaeru Midorino,
who lives in Adelaide, Australia.

Honestly, it was an incredibly profound time.
We talked about Washi art, welfare, culture, the global environment,
and even about "how to leave your thoughts behind for the world."

Today, including my impressions of that live stream,
I'd like to write about Kaeru-chan's charm.

Someone whose Washi art truly has meaning

What Kaeru-chan does is
Washi art using Washi, a traditional Japanese craft.

But this isn't just about
"making pretty pieces of art."

She is
• Infusing Washi with messages she wants to convey
• Spreading Washi art to the world
• Passing on Japanese culture

She is sharing the appeal of Washi with the world.

I was surprised by the scale of this.

From hairdresser to Washi artist

Kaeru-chan was originally a hairdresser.
She is someone who held scissors for many years.

Each of those experiences
is a work born from the memory of her hands that she has built up.

She turned that activity into art.
She received the Jury's Special Award
at the 30th Japan Art National Selected Artists Exhibition.

During the live stream, she said,
she's used to handling scissors because she was a hairdresser,
and that the brush used to spread glue is just like applying a beauty mask,
which made me realize that skills ingrained in the body truly never fade away.

By the way, I'm also a former esthetician, so we really hit it off talking about that (laughs).

Washi Art × Disability Welfare activities

What's amazing about Kaeru-chan is that
she doesn't just end with the art itself,
but properly connects it to society.

This is a photo of Washi art done at a special needs school.

This July,
we did Washi art as an art class with over 200 students
at a special needs school.

The only support we received was for material costs.
Everything else was volunteer work.

Even so, there was
a pure desire to "convey something" there.

My child also has a developmental disability, and even now, drawing freely is a high hurdle.
However, after hearing Kaeru-chan's story, I thought that maybe with Washi art, where you can tear and paste with your hands, it might be possible.

It's not about having to make it well,
it's fine to use that person's own senses.
It's fine to be free.

That is why
people with disabilities and children alike
can all be the stars.

Messages from a world without words

The world of Washi art depicted by Kaeru Midorino.
The theme is
"Messages from a world without words."

The preciousness and fragility of life,
the life of the forest being revived,
the coexistence of nature and humans,
the beautiful planet Earth, and
the environment surrounding it.

Rather than explaining with words,
through the expression of Washi,
the piano performance by Masumi Hiyoshi,
and the visuals projected on the screen,

it was a new experiential art appreciation
where you could feel the sound, the images, and the very air.

Before understanding,
you feel.
I think we all shared
that kind of time together.

Connecting the world
"Washi Art Earth Project"

Kaeru-chan's signature activity is

the "Washi Art Earth Project that connects the world."

The theme is
The future of the Earth created by each individual's personality.

What kind of project is it?
• Make a large round canvas
• Divide it into 9 parts
• Have each country take charge of 3 pieces
• Create collage art using the traditional Japanese material "Washi"
• Finally, Kaeru Midorino adjusts the whole thing to complete it
• Exhibit it at exhibitions or online

By having disability facilities around the world participate,
we turn colorful Washi torn by hand
into the "shape of the Earth."

So far, about 5 works have been completed and exhibited.

The unique Kaeru-chan says, "If a billionaire in Dubai bought one, it would cover our activity costs!" (laughs)

A kind action called Ten GOMI Monday

Yuriko from France taught me
about an activity called "SpoGomi" (Sport Gomi-hiroi).
Kaeru-chan does it too.

It's an initiative to enjoy picking up trash
like a sport, rather than seeing it as hard work.
What left an impression on me was


Ten GOMI MondayEvery Monday,

someone, somewhere in the world,
picks up 10 pieces of trash.
That's it.

But that "that's it"
properly circulates.
Return the Earth to Green ☘️

I felt it was quietly connected
to Kaeru Midorino's work "Coexistence."
No words are needed,

pick it up, return it, and connect again.
I hope that such Mondays
will increase a little bit.
Participating countries👇

Japan
France
USA
Australia

Rather than saying big things, doing what you can little by little. That's also very like Kaeru-chan.

The 'real talk about note' that came up during the Live

During the Live, I also got a question from Kaeru-chan about note.
1. note is for people who like writing and reading, right?

Writing is normal.

But honestly, once your followers increase, it's impossible to read everything every day.
It takes time, and I'm not good at kanji, and I don't even read books (lol).

2. About the 'tweet' feature.
The tweet feature is gone now, but you can still post text even if it's just one line.

Better to continue than to be perfect.

3. The problem of replying to comments.
When I start making Washi art, I worry about not being able to reply to comments.

I totally get this.

If you think you have to reply to everything, it gets exhausting, right?

So we talked about maybe improving the account and restarting on note.
Don't push yourself, go at your own rhythm.

I'm always here to talk.

The desire to make Washi 'circulate'

What stayed with me most from the Live was the story about Washi.
Washi used to be used as a matter of course for stationery, envelopes, and wrapping paper.

But during the COVID period, demand disappeared, and the reality is that Washi workshops across the country disappeared one after another.
She put her dream into words: 'While I'm alive, I want to make Washi art circulate more.'

Encounter with Inshu Washi

The trigger for starting Washi art was a TV program I saw 15 years ago.
I kept getting turned down because they found out I lived overseas and couldn't do business.

The last place I contacted, the Inshu Washi Inoue Paper Store, said, 'We can handle it if it's PayPal.'

That's how I was finally able to start from overseas.

Because of that gratitude, many of my current works use Inshu Washi.
Inshu Washi is a traditional Japanese paper with a long history that has been made in Tottori Prefecture for a long time.

Kaeru-chan's activities are also a collaboration with the craftsmen who have protected that Washi culture.
Touching Washi through creating works becomes a trigger for people to know about good Washi, and as a result, it leads to demand for Washi.
I think it's an activity where such a cycle is born.
And, from now on...
During the Live, many people raised their hands saying they were interested in Washi art, and guess what! Kaeru-chan decided to hold a free Zoom lesson in January.


The listeners and I were incredibly happy.

I was also happy that Kaeru-chan said, 'I want you to spread Washi art in Osaka too.'
Japan's traditional craft, Washi.
The global environment, the cycle of life.

Let's all go out into the world!
This Live was a time when such dreams connected with everyone.

If you are interested in Washi art, welfare, or Earth projects, please take a look👇

👉 Midorino Kaeru's Washi Art Instagram

👉 Midorino Kaeru-chan's Instagram (You can see her activities from her profile)

Thank you so much for reading