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It was Ginza where the first account books in Japan started, and there used to be a number of account book stores there. The techniques of marble effects pattern-making, used for making account books, was introduced to Japan from Europe about 140 years ago, and then was changed to be original. Our interview of the month is with Maestro Masakazu Ando, the second owner of the "Ando Chobo Account Book Store" located in Ginza 1-chome. |
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| What is Marble Paper? |
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Marble paper is popular in Europe for their beautiful patterns that imitate marble stone, and it has been used for decorations since the 16th century. The papers and techniques of marbling were brought into Japan by a British man, Mr. Paterson, in 1873, and they were then handed down throughout Japan. Marble papers are used on the sides of the account book called “Tenchi” and “Koguchi”. The purposes of having marble paper for account books are to avoid gettinng soiled, to reinforce the papers overall, and to prevent the falsifying of records. The technique of marble patterning was handed down at Ando-chobo store to protect account books.
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| Becoming a second owner |
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Ando-Chobo was established in Ginza 2chome, Kobiki-cho at the time, in 1924 by my father. My father first worked at a printing firm in Ginza, and then became independent. There used to be 97 account book stores within a small area of Ginza to Kyobashi, and there were more than 10 craftspeople at our store as well. I started to help since childhood but I was never taught techniques from my father directly. One day, my father told me to do it all of a sudden, and with all of my time living with papers or ink around me, I seemed to have learned the techniques out of nowhere. I became the second owner in 1958.
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| Craftman Work |
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The process of making marble patterns starts with liquid making. The liquid is made of Konnyaku powder, which is made into a solution with water, boiled in a pot, and then cooled down. The water pigments are prepared by melting them with alcohol and water and letting them blend by mixing them occasionally with a bar for at least three months. These are the main materials.
Next, he lays the pigments over the solution with a brush, drawing five horizontal lines with different widths and colors. Then, he draws a figure-eight, making patterns vertically with a bar, using the handmade tool “Kushi” to rhythmically draws additional patterns little by little.
For all of these processes, he only trusts his intuition, developed due to great amount of experience, since the conditions of the solution and the pigments are easy to be influenced by temperature.
  
| 1.draws 5 horizontal lines |
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2.draws patterns using Kushi |
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3.sets a paper on the patterns and copies them |
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| Pursuing the Art |
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The demand for accout books, the initial purpose of marble papers, is declining as personal computers and other methods take its place. For us, there are only some clients left and that is making it difficult to pass down the business. On the other hand, my enthusiasm for wanting to learn traditional marble patterning techniques of Europe grew stronger after I became 60. In the world of craftspeople, techniques are never allowed to go out of the house, but as I visited Monsieur. Michel Duval, a leader in the field, several times in France, he would kindly let me learn with him. Also, I could collect old works including old books. Today, I contribute more to make works and to demonstrate at the exhibitions. When the audience responds to seeing my demonstrations by going“Wow!”, that is when I feel the greatest doing this work.
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| With Ginza and my work |
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Although Ginza is the birth place of account books, and there used to be a number of chobo stores, there are only a few left today. Ginza is also known for the various foreign brand stores where you can find imported goods first in the country. In this respect, the history of Ginza and marble paper are related. Technically and artistically, there are no limits to pursue in the world of marbling papers. It first started as an account book for business purposes, however, I will make it more popular among commoners by joining the traditional exhibitions. As for my work, I will continue to meet the challenge of making good works, spending all my life since good craftspeople are becoming few even in Europe, where it originally came from.
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Ando Chobo
Kyodo Bldg 2F, 1-15-6 Ginza Chuo-ku The marble papers Mr. Ando makes is only sold to corporations, not to customers directly. However, his work can be seen demonstrated at traditional craft exhibition sites and so on.
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![伝統技術[工芸編⑥]](images/index_tx02.jpg)
