Official

Haibara was founded in 1806. It goes back to the era of the 11th Tokugawa Shogun "Ienari Tokugawa". Haibara's founder Sasuke became independent after serving at Suharaya Mohee in Nihonbashi, and set up a shop selling paper, ink and medicine on the south side of Nihonbashi.

This painting is a woodblock print published around 1887, about 80 years after its founding. The times are Civilization and enlightenment. Nihonbashi is depicted on the left side of the picture. The black tile building on the right is Haibara at the time. Noren, written in white and black, is written as "Haibara", and a fan is displayed under Japanese shop curtain.

The geese paper is a plant made from Japanese paper, called the geese, which grew naturally near Atami at the time, and has become a hot topic in Edo and Tokyo, and Haibara began to move to Stardom in the Japanese paper industry.

If you look closely inside the picture, you can also find people selling fans purchased in Haibara. Haibara also worked on the times of Civilization and enlightenment, handling not only Japanese paper but also Western paper. On the right side of Japanese shop curtain you can see a sign called "Western Paper Products".

On the left side of the telegraph column, you can see Japan's oldest bank, Daiichi National Bank, founded by Eiichi Shibusawa in 1873. According to Mr. Tamura of Haibara, "Because it is a famous place in Tokyo at the time, I think it is depicted as a symbol of the bustling center."

The head of Haibara had previously claimed to be "Naojiro Haibara" for generations.

Naojiro Haibara, the third generation, has been passionate about art research since he was young, and joined the Ryuikekai in 1883, which was formed for the purpose of restoring Japanese art. In 1891, he assisted the establishment of the Japan Youth Painting Association (later the Japan Art Academy).

Naojiro Haibara, the third generation, deepened exchanges with leading painters such as Koshin Shibata, Tamasho Kawabata, and Kyosai Kawanabe, and this is the cornerstone of the Haibara design that continues today.

The photo above is Shibata Zeshinpochibukuro.

The times moved to the Taisho era. Naojiro Haibara, the fourth generation, had a deep friendship with Yumeji Takehisa, a painter representing Taisho romance. Yumeji has worked on many designs for Haibara stationery, picture envelopes, postcards, chiyogami, fans, advertisements, etc.

Yumeji was not only a designer in Haibara but also a customer seeking Japanese paper needed to produce his work. It's a win-win relationship now.

This time, "Tokyo Mannaka ippindo" was selected as "Ippetsusen by Yumeji Takehisa". There are 12 different designs in total. A slim design compared to ordinary single-stroke notes. It was originally a design of a picture envelope. Each title was invented by two poets, also poets. "Because there are various patterns, it is a standard product of Haibara that you can choose according to the season. "We are buying it from a wide range of age groups," says Tamura.

"Take-chan" also purchased and used "Sakura" one-stroke paper. Recently, the opportunity to write letters by hand has been reduced, but I tried to write to my son, "Daddy, do your test today." My son also seemed to be unusual for me to write a handwritten letter, and received it with a mysterious expression.

Haibara Washi, which was loved by many writers, is not only comfortable to write, but also very comfortable to touch.

Because handwritten letters are rare, it is surprising and happy to receive them. Why don't you use "Takehisa Yumeji One-stroke Stick" as a surprise means to instantly shoot out the opponent's heart?

The assortment of products centered on Haibara Japanese paper seems to attract customers from overseas. Sometimes it seems that there were big artists coming to the store.

It seems that quite a lot of foreign tourists went to Haibara before Corona.

"Recently, overseas customers are starting to return little by little," says Tamura.

In fact, more than 130 years ago, Haibara exhibited a number of expositions such as the Vienna Expo (1873), the Paris Expo (1878), and the Barcelona Expo (1888). We exhibited items such as geese paper, fusuma paper, and Chiyogami. This would have had an important opportunity to appeal Japan's precious culture to European countries. Haibara is a long-lived company that has survived from the Edo period to the present day. Through this interview, I feel that I was able to understand a little bit of the secret that has passed through the hardships many times and lasted for over 200 years.

Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Hideaki Tamura of Haibara Co., Ltd. for his sincere answer to the unfamiliar interview. Thank you very much.

※In the text, a link to Haibara Co., Ltd. was posted.

※In the text, we have added a link to Wikipedia.

※In the text, a link to Tokyo Mannaka ippindo was posted.

Nearest station
　Nihombashi Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tozai Line, Toei Asakusa Line)
　Just above the B6 exit
Business hours
　Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30
　Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30
Holidays
　Holidays, New Year's Holidays
Location
　〒103-0027 Tokyo Nihonbashi Tower 2-7-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo