Nishijin Textile Fujin Raijin Notebook

The Nishijin Textile Fujin Raijin Notebook weaves the Wind God and Thunder God (Fūjin Raijin-zu) onto the cover of a B6 dot-grid notebook by the Kyoto maker Morisan. This pairing is one of Japan's most famous painted motifs, best known from the early-17th-century gold-leaf folding screens attributed to Tawaraya Sōtatsu, now a National Treasure held at Kennin-ji temple in Kyoto. On the notebook, Raijin the thunder god charges forward with his ring of drums, while Fūjin the wind god carries the bag from which he stirs the winds.

Because the picture is woven from dyed threads rather than printed, the two gods and their swirling clouds stand out in fine relief against the pale gold ground. The dot-grid pages inside are ready for a diary, a journal, or daily notes.

Nishijin textile is renowned for its diverse yet limited production. It originates from the historic Nishijin district in Kyoto and boasts a heritage of over a thousand years. The crafting process starts with meticulously dyeing each white thread in the needed colors. Once dyed, the threads are carefully wound to facilitate weaving. This ensures they are intricately woven into designs that epitomize traditional Japanese artistry.

Morisan, a company that manufactures notebooks, has made Nishijin textile more accessible and affordable. They achieve this by using polyester instead of the traditional silk. Notebooks made from Nishijin textile, with over a thousand years of history in Kyoto, are highly recommended for recording daily events. They are ideal for diaries or bullet journals as they preserve your personal history.

Explore our Japanese notebook collection, crafted for exceptional writing and creative sketching.

Details

• Size: B6 - 5.0" × 7.1" (12.8cm × 18.2 cm)
• Pages: 192 Pages (96 Sheets)
• Sheet Type: Dot Grid
• Paper Type: High-Quality Paper 70k
• Paper Weight: 81.4 gsm
  
• Weight: 255g
• Material: Nishijin Textile(polyester) / Paper
• Brand: Morisan

Morisan: Preserving Nishijin Textile 'Kinran' in Japanese Notebook

"Bringing Nishijin Brocade Closer to Everyday Life"

In Japan, if you speak of tradition and history, Kyoto often comes to mind. It is the former capital and a hub of cultural heritage. Since 1921, Morisan has been a steadfast purveyor of Kyoto’s traditional craft, Nishijin textile. Among their offerings, Morisan specializes in an exquisite form of Nishijin brocade known as 'kinran.' This luxurious fabric incorporates gold threads. They are made by applying gold leaf to washi paper, slicing it into hair-thin strips, and wrapping these around threads. These are then intricately woven to create stunning patterns.

Traditionally, kinran was used in garments such as Buddhist monks' robes and costumes for Japanese dolls, but the demand for such items has diminished over time. However, Morisan has embraced a mission to integrate Nishijin brocade into contemporary life, making it more accessible and enjoyable. By substituting silk with polyester to maintain affordability, and crafting a range of everyday items from notebooks to bags, Morisan is making this opulent fabric a part of modern living.

We invite people around the world to enjoy Morisan's Japanese notebook, which embody the tradition of Kyoto's Nishijin textile artisans—a tradition that Morisan has proudly sustained for over a century.