Photo/Illutration Tamotsu Tanaka, who began working to preserve manga paintings using traditional Echizen Washi paper after becoming an acquaintance of manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, stands next to a wall displaying paintings by Chiba in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, on April 25. (Kenji Oda)

ECHIZEN, Fukui Prefecture--A “grand experiment” has kicked off here to preserve manga paintings for 1,000 years using special “washi” paper from the town.

The aim is to determine for how long the prefecture’s product can preserve drawings and whether it can transcend its role as a traditional craft.

Some of Japan’s leading comic artists provided original drawings in support of the cause.

Ten illustrations, including original ink paintings drawn on Echizen Washi by manga artists and replicas of the art, were displayed at the venue of an explanatory session for a special exhibition held for the media at the Museum of Washi and Culture on April 25.

“This is a grand experiment to increase the value of Echizen Washi and manga works,” said Tamotsu Tanaka, 69, who runs a lumber shop in the city.

Tanaka became an acquaintance of comic artist Tetsuya Chiba, who is renowned for his popular boxing manga “Ashita no Joe” (Tomorrow’s Joe),  around summer 2020 and started providing pencils for him.

He learned that Chiba was worried about the preservation of his original manuscripts because many of his works painted on Kent paper became oxidized and turned brown over time, making the manuscripts ragged and tattered.

Tanaka, who has been working to preserve replicas of Chiba’s original drawings on Echizen Washi since last year, started thinking the traditional paper could also be used to preserve originals as well.

HISTORY MEETS POP CULTURE

It is believed that the history of Echizen Washi dates back about 1,500 years.

A document made of Echizen Washi that is about 1,300 years old remains in existence at the Shosoin Repository in Todaiji temple in Nara, where treasures of Emperor Shomu (701-756) and other items are stored.

Tanaka thought Echizen Washi could permanently preserve the manga works and add value of its own by preserving not only copies, but also their originals.

When Tanaka asked other manga artists to join the experiment using Chiba’s connections, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, who served as character designer for the “Mobile Suit Gundam” robot anime series, Motoka Murakami, best known for his historical medical drama “Jin,” and “Thermae Romae” author Mari Yamazaki offered their assistance. 

Washi is a high-end paper made by hand only from the bark of the “ganpi” shrub.

“It is characterized by its fine texture, being thin and being durable,” said museum director Masao Shimizu. “It is well suited for delicate expressions.”

Tanaka asked the manga creators to illustrate using ink produced by Kobaien, an ink shop in Nara with a history of more than 400 years.

Chiba provided an illustration of “Ashita no Joe” protagonist Joe Yabuki, while Yasuhiko drew characters from his major history-themed works, “Yamato Takeru” and “Namuji.”

Murakami offered a “bijin-ga” depiction of a beautiful woman from the closing days of Japan’s feudal times titled “Bakumatsu no Onna,” and Yamazaki’s drawing features Lucius, the protagonist of her hit bathhouse manga series, enjoying a bath.

All the original illustrations were drawn this year.

Using the same washi, their replicas were also produced to be preserved in a different place from where the originals will be stored.

Tanaka said he will consider concrete measures to preserve the illustrations for a long time.

The original illustrations and their replicas are on display at the special exhibition running at the museum.

The exhibition is called “Manga Shosoin-ten,” reflecting the hope to preserve manga illustrations for at least 1,000 years, just like the nearly 1,300-year-old document made of Echizen Washi kept at the Shosoin Repository.

The exhibition will run until June 26. The venue is closed on Tuesdays.

Admission is 300 yen ($2.20) for adults and free for senior high school students and younger children.

For inquiries, visit the museum’s official website at (https://www.echizenwashi.jp/museum/).

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