Ise Katagami

Japan's Exquisite Paper Patterns

photography by Norio Asai and Hiroaki Ishii / text by Machico Yorozu

Originating in the Nara Period (710-794), katagami, or Japanese paper stencil patterns, were first used for applying designs in dye to leather goods such as stirrups and warrior helmets. They later came to be used for dyeing textiles and made great advances with the development of the kimono culture. The early paper stencil patterns were called Ise katagami since they were created in towns such as Shiroko and Jike on the shore of Ise Bay in former Ise Province (present-day Mie prefecture). They were sold all over Japan by itinerant traders. A journey to visit the roots of Ise katagami will give you insights into the heart of traditional Japanese culture.

Ise Katagami Auspicious objects, Chinese characters, beautiful scenes, and cherished everyday items have been incorporated into katagami designs. Only consummate craftsmen can handle such deft, meticulous cutting work. From top left: small mallets and weights, characters for cho, varied stripes, tortoises, shells, chirping sparrows, varied weights, anchors, fallen cherry blossoms, gauzy twill, characters for "tiger," bells, checkered flower patterns, arrow feathers, god of thunder, and weights.
These plates are a part of a collection of ancient stencils titled Ise Katagami, published by the Association for the Preservation of Ise Katagami.
Cutting stencils with the dogu-bori method is extremely intricate work requiring blades of many different shapes.