A new exhibition opens at Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya on September 11, bringing together the delicate washi paper flowers of Hananowa with Atelier Shimura's traditional plant dyeing, known as kusaki-zome. Titled "The Colors of Plants, Becoming Flowers," the exhibition presents works born from the collaboration between the two.
Hananowa's flowers are folded one by one by origami artists from Hon-Mino-shi, a washi paper registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, produced under the direction of 岐阜県商品開発研究所 (GPDL). For this exhibition, flowers that are deliberately created without color, to let the material's natural texture shine, take on colors drawn from plants and open anew. Mino washi, with a 1,300-year history, meets kusaki-zome, a technique that draws color from the life of plants — the meeting of these two crafts creates a new form that harmonizes with modern life.
New products will also be introduced, including beeswax paper dyed in a variety of colors using plants. The exhibition presents items that are gentle on nature and add color to everyday life, showing handcraft beauty with global appeal.
Exhibition Overview
Dates: September 11 (Fri) to October 20 (Tue), 2026, 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM (closed Wednesdays and Thursdays; open on national holidays)
Venue: Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya, 6-17-7 Soshigaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
On display and for sale: Hananowa washi paper flowers, beeswax paper, and more
Dates GPDL's representative will be on-site: September 11 (Fri), 12 (Sat), 13 (Sun), and 14 (Mon)
Inquiries: Tel: 03-6411-1215 / Email: gallery@ateliershimura.co.jp
About Hananowa
A single white flower that keeps blooming for 100 years.
Made from Hon-Mino-shi washi paper, Hananowa is a washi flower folded one by one, by hand, by origami artists.
If only there were a flower that could stay beautifully by our side, unchanged, forever.
As communication grows ever more digital, the preciousness of putting feelings onto paper never changes.
Like writing a letter, or keeping a diary — share a special thought, together with Hananowa. (GPDL)
Related Event: Talk Show
"Handcraft and Branding — The Future of Washi Paper"
Featuring Hiroyuki Hayashi (Representative, GPDL) and 志村昌司 (Representative, Atelier Shimura)
Hiroyuki Hayashi, representative of 岐阜県商品開発研究所 (GPDL), joins Atelier Shimura's 志村昌司 for a conversation centered on what matters most in making products and how to communicate that value, along with the current state of traditional crafts and industries, ongoing efforts to pass them on to the next generation, and the successes and challenges involved.
Date and time: September 12 (Sat), 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Venue: Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya
Participation fee: 2,200 yen (tax included)
Capacity: 12 people
Details and registration: https://hananowatalk.peatix.com
More on the exhibition is available on the Atelier Shimura gallery page.
Speaker Profile: Hiroyuki Hayashi (Representative, GPDL)
Representative Director and Creative Director of 株式会社岐阜県商品開発研究所 (GPDL). Hayashi supports Gifu's manufacturing from end to end — making, communicating, and selling — working on product planning and development, branding, market development, and exhibition production. His hands-on approach, working directly alongside companies and artisans, connects regional skills and materials to new value in the market.
