Omi Ikkanbari / Paper Bag

It is an eco-friendly product made entirely of paper. It is so strong, lightweight, and long-lasting that you may wonder if it is really made only of paper.

Width：30cm
Depth：11cm
Height：17cm
Weight：300g

Paper
Persimmon tannin

EBITANI KOGEI

"Live a life with a passion so that you can die laughing at the moment of death. Leave no regrets, live life to the fullest"

Even if my profession has changed, the importance of these words and beliefs that I received when I was a motorcycle racer has not changed. Now, as a craftsman of Omi lacquered paper craft, I want people all over the world to experience our products from the viewpoint of SDGs and eco-friendliness.

ARTISAN STORY

Ryota Ebitani / Ebitani Kogei
He is a third generation of a craftsman family that have been making Omi Ikanbari in Shiga Prefecture since 1969. He has a unique background, having worked as a pastry chef and a motorcycle racer before joining the family business. He is also working on designs that match the modern market, and he hopes to create products that will be used by the younger generation.

ACHIEVEMENTS

・Exhibited at Milan Design Week

OMI IKKANBARI / OMI LACQUERED PAPER CRAFT

About 400 years ago / 1600s / Edo Period (1603–1868)

Ikkanbari is made by layering washi over bamboo baskets or wooden forms and finishing the surface with persimmon tannin or lacquer. One tradition traces the technique to the Chinese-born craftsman Hirai Ikkan in the early Edo period. In Omi it became connected with tea utensils and practical household containers.

In Japan, Ikkanbari bowls and boxes are admired because they are lighter than wood yet far stronger than people expect from paper. The technique appears in tea ware, confectionery containers, baskets and bags, and contemporary makers sometimes incorporate old printed paper or calligraphy to create unique surfaces.

Its greatest surprise is that paper becomes a structural material. A single sheet tears easily, but layers placed in different fiber directions and hardened with tannin or lacquer become remarkably durable. The principle resembles a composite material—turning weakness into strength through lamination centuries before modern engineering.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.