– Kakejiku is the key to unravel Japanese mystery. –
Since ancient times, Japan has been considered one of the most mysterious countries in the world.
Kakejiku is an ultimate for learning about Japan.

An essential aspect of the kakejiku is that it is not intended to be hung permanently; making it versatile in its placement. This means that it can be changed at frequent intervals. One of the pleasures of the kakejiku lies in selecting a suitable one, depending on occasions, guests, and seasons.

You can see how to handle a hanging scroll.

How to Get to ART NOMURA from JR Tarumi station.
Approx. 15 minutes walk from the station.

Keiji Yamazaki is a Japanese-style painter.
“Harmony with nature” is a recurrent theme in his paintings and he has created many excellent works.

Katō Tomo is a Japanese-style painter.

1947-
A member of the Nitten Exhibition
A disciple of Kibou Kodama and Gensou Okuda

Katsunobu Kawahito is a Japanese-style painter.

1922-
A member of the Nitten Exhibition.

Seihan Mori is the chief abbot of the Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, Japan.

– Remove Old Backing Paper –
– Backing –
– Karibari and Drying –
– Reinforcement –
– Additional Hosai (Toning) –
– Tsukemawashi, Kiritsugi / Cut and Join –
– Tachiawase / Cutting to size –
– Mimi-ori / Folding over of the edge –
– Finishing –

– Remove Old Backing Paper –
The kakejiku is produced through several urauchi backings.

“Urauchi” is the act of applying paper to the back of paper, silk, or fabric with paste for reinforcement.

The first step in remounting kakejiku is to remove the old backing paper carefully.

Generally, there are three layers of backing paper. They are applied in the order of “hada ura-uchi”(the first), “mashi urauchi”(the second), “sou urauchi”(the final) from the back of a “honshi” main artwork. When removing the paper, we start working on with outside, “sou urauchi”(the final) in reverse order.

When it comes to degree of difficulty, the closer to a main work, the harder it will be. Therefore, removing “hada ura-uchi”(the first backing) is most difficult since it is directly applied to a main artwork. It is also regarded as the most difficult step in the whole repair procedure.

A “hyougushi” scroll mounter focuses all of his attention on his fingertips and strips the first backing paper carefully not to damage a main artwork.

An artwork reveals its true self as each backing paper is stripped away.

– Backing –
Backing (called “urauchi”) is the act of applying paper to the back of paper, silk, or fabric with paste for reinforcement. The paper to be used is selected by the craftsman (hyougushi) depending on the effect that is trying to be achieved and the condition of the main work. In mounting a “kakejiku” (hanging scroll), the first backing called “hada-urauchi,” is applied directly onto the back of the main work. In this process, relatively thin, firm paper is used.

– Karibari and Drying –
During the process of the first backing, the main work and mounting fabric will have acquired moisture and become somewhat stretched. By applying paste to the edges, and placing the main work and the mounting fabric on a “karibari” board, stress on the main work and the mounting fabric can be adjusted, and will become flat as they dry. This way it will be possible to create a balance between the two when the main work is mounted as a kakejiku.

– Clean –
ART NOMURA removes dirt of a kakejiku with our own, unique method. We must not spoil the antique beauty of the work that has caused its aesthetic value to grow over the years. It doesn’t always mean best to clean the work thoroughly. This is a very difficult decision.

– Reinforcement –
Creases result from repeated rolling and unrolling of a kakejiku (hanging scroll). They are the cause of friction in fabric or the main work as well as exfoliation of the pigments. We apply infill paper to creases or cracks on the backside of the main work after initial or subsidiary backing. Narrow strips of strong but thin pieces of Japanese paper are used. This crease reinforcement strip is called “ore-fuse” or “ore-ate.” Ore-fuse is applied from the back of the backing paper. We can reinforce creases and prevent them from occuring again. This operation is very delicate and time-consuming.

– Hosai (Toning) –
If the condition of a work is bad, a part of the artwork may be lost. Even with a backing, the work may still appear unnatural because of extensive deterioration. After obtaining the permission of a client, we sometimes add lines or color in order to fill in lost parts on the work.
This operation is very delicate because it requires an understanding about the work, a sensitivity to colors and a specialized knowledge about painting materials.

– Tsukemawashi, Kiritsugi / Cut and Join –
Cut-and-join, which is also called “tsukemawashi,” is the process by which the main work and the mounting fabric are joined to make a kakejiku. After removing the main work from the karibari board, it is adjusted into the correct rectangular shape. Then, the main work and the mounting fabric are adhered together with fresh paste, and ready to be mounted as a kakejiku.

– Tachiawase / Cutting to size –
Cutting a hanging scroll or hand scroll to size after the second backing.

– Mimi-ori / Folding over of the edge –
Also called “hashi-ori”. Folding the left and right edges of a hanging scroll back approximately 3 to 4.5 mm. This width differs according to the size of the hanging scroll. It is executed after cut-and-join and before the final backing.

– Finishing –
A hanging rod is attached to the top of the kakejiku, while a roller rod with knobs is attached to the bottom. Decorative fabric strips (fuutai) are sewn onto the hanging rod if necessary, and ring tacks are hammered in the rod and a hanging cord and a wrapping cord are attached.

We received an order from an international client living in Tokyo for remounting a deers kakejiku hanging scroll. Thank you very much.

We received an inquiry from a client in the U.S. for remounting a flying down geese kakejiku hanging scroll. Thank you very much.

We received a repeat order from Europe: remounting a samurai kakejiku hanging scroll.

We received an inquiry from a client in Switzerland for mounting a calligraphic work into a kakejiku hanging scroll.

We received an inquiry from a client in the United States of America for remounting a Chinese kakejiku hanging scroll, which is his friend’s gift.

A “fuuchin” is a pair of weights hung on a kakejiku (hanging scroll). A fuuchin, made of decorative wood or ceramic, is used to prevent a kakejiku from swinging in the wind. It is hung on “jikusaki” (the roller knobs attached to the end of a cylindrical rod at the bottom of a kakejiku), if needed. Actually, the original function of a fuuchin is being lost due to contemporary airtight houses.

We had lovely guests from the U.K. at the end of September 2017.
They chose our hanging scrolls (kakejiku) as a Japanese souvenir.
Thank you for coming to ART NOMURA in Kobe.