Grandfather's Envelopes [Second Edition]

Master carpenter Kouzaki Hiromu retired at the age of 71 and spent his free time on what he referred to as ‘television work’, simply enjoying watching TV. After turning 80, he began making what he called his ‘works of paper,’ saying, ‘it is healthier for old people to move their hands.’

Using scrap paper that would otherwise have been discarded, Kouzaki started making envelopes. He reinforced the sheets for easier handling and sanded them to help the glue adhere. From this daily practice, Kouzaki unintentionally created works that document the lifestyle and stories of their time.

This book presents his paper craft through photographs, accompanied by the words of his granddaughter, Fujii Sakiko.

Fujii Sakiko describes her grandfather’s envelope-making as the work of a craftsman. Watching by his side, she recalls how carefully he selected and handled his tools, how precisely they were sharpened, and how the process continued tirelessly from morning to night.

Re-encountering the envelopes in recent years, objects that had once been made daily, she found in each one the ingenuity of handwork, its expressive power, and the strength of persistence.

This is a collection of works shaped by the grandfather’s hands and seen through the granddaughter’s eyes.