When the Osaki family first visited Canada in 2003, Akari Osaki was a young adult, still unsure of the direction her future would take. Travelling with her grandfather and mother, both papermakers, she visited Toronto, Montréal, and Kinngait (formerly Cape Dorset). For the first time, Akari saw how far her family’s paper had travelled and how passionately it had been embraced by Canadian artists.

Osaki family visiting Cape Dorset with their guides

That journey allowed her to see washi, and her family’s craft, in a new light. It helped shape her decision to continue the family tradition and become a papermaker herself. More than twenty years later, The Japanese Paper Place is honoured to welcome Akari back to Toronto, this time with her own family.

Akari Osaki in her studio, 2025

You may not immediately recognize the Osaki name, but many artists will recognize the exceptional papers they make: Seichosen Kozo and Seikosen Mitsumata Heritage Washi.

These papers are made from 100% Japanese-grown fibres using time-honoured techniques passed down through generations. They contain no fillers, and no harsh caustic chemicals are used to accelerate processing or to artificially whiten the fibres. The result is paper of remarkable strength, absorbency, longevity, and beauty.

Seikosen Mitsumata (left) and Seichosen Kozo (right)

Fibre naturally whitening in a pool drawn from a mountain stream

Akari’s husband, Hisanao, showing us their wooden drying boards

Classified as Heritage Washi, Seichosen Kozo and Seikosen Mitsumata represent more than outstanding materials. They embody a living tradition, a deep respect for natural resources, and a commitment to making some of the most enduring and sustainable papers available today.

Coinciding with the Osaki family’s visit, we are excited to present Celebrating Osaki Washi, an exhibition featuring work by a select group of invited artists using Seichosen and Seikosen. The exhibition will be on display at The Japanese Paper Place from September 28 to October 30, 2026.

We invite you to join us in Celebrating Osaki Washi by attending:

Celebrating Osaki Washi: Exhibition and Demonstrations

• Meet the papermakers
• Watch artists demonstrate their use of Seichosen and Seikosen
• Learn how the papers’ attributes influence the artists’ work

Exhibition Date & Time:
Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 30, 2026, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Demonstrations Date & Time:
Thursday, October 1, 2026, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Location:
The Japanese Paper Place (103 The East Mall, Unit 1, Toronto)

Celebrating Osaki Washi: An Evening with the Papermakers

• Moderated questions and answers with Akari Osaki
• Remarks from artists committed to working with washi
• Video footage of papermaking life in Japan

Date & Time: 
Friday, October 2, 2026, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location:
Arts & Letters Club (14 Elm St., Toronto)