Paper Wings

LOVE PAPER? 

Love Takeo & Winged Wheel.

It’s business time. Pull out your card. What’s it say?

If you’ve read or seen American Psycho, you may be familiar with Patrick Bateman’s business card obsession. He would have had a hard time controlling his raging urges if he’d ever made it to Tokyo.

Glancing through the Wallpaper* city guide on the 7th floor of Shibuya’s Tower Records, I spotted their recommendation for a stationery shop. I had been looking for this [NSFW] when my mind wandered.

Jotting down the address, I planned to visit at a later date. I had taken up bookbinding a few months previously. Inspiration had come from the design and craftsmanship of Japanese books and paper. A serendipitous jaunt through Tokyu Hands had landed me a starter kit and tools.

Now I needed more materials. Specifically washi (和紙), fibrous Japanese paper usually made from kozo (mulberry), gampi or mitsumata. Washi is often designed exquisite aesthetic sensibilities and has a great tactile appeal. Yet at the same time it is structurally tough and hard-wearing.

Winged Wheel, located in the quiet backstreets of Omotesandō (表参道), is a superlative stationery boutique. The store provides a bespoke service. While I was there several young, well-heeled Tokyoites were choosing name cards and party invitations from the selection of gorgeous designs and papers. If you’re in need of a quick fix, they also carry ready-to-buy sets.

The staff were extremely helpful. They spoke a little English too. I’m sure it would be easy to place an order without any knowledge of Japanese.

Orders can also be made by e-mail. Goods are shipped overseas via the efficient EMS service.

I, however, was on the look out for large sheets of washi for making books. When they found out they didn’t have what I wanted, the staff kindly suggested I try the nearby branch of a paper specialist in Aoyama.

Takeo (竹尾) is the dog’s. If you have any love for top quality design, let alone paper, you owe yourself a visit. Take some time to relax on a sofa with the reams and reams of sample sheets. Fill in an order form once you’ve made your choices and hand it over.

The staff at Takeo seemed somewhat colder than the lovely lasses at Winged Wheel. Maybe they were just wary of my wide-eyed wonder at it all. Maybe they familiar with American Psycho.

The Aoyama store also sold some neat, minimal notebooks and journals. They would make great presents for the writer or paper fetishist in your life.

If you only have a casual interest in washi, then a trip to Tokyu Hands (Shinjuku, 7F or Shibuya, 6A) would probably be sufficient. Both branches of the famous ‘creative life store’ sell washi in varies forms and sizes, including origami packs with instructions. At time of writing they also carried home bookbinding starter kits.

I’ll leave a more in depth look at the magnificent Tokyu Hands for a later post.

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See The Directory [English or 日本語] for addresses, maps and contact details.

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THIS IS NOT AN EXIT