In the second instalment of our Japanese conservation series, Frame London’s own Leina Taylor travels to the serene northern region of Japan, exploring the materials that shape our daily work at the forefront of conservation framing. Nestled at the foot of Mount Gassan lies a small papermaking studio, home to the craft of making Gassan washi—a traditional Japanese paper known for its strength, flexibility, and durability.

After completing an MA in the conservation of works on paper while working at Frame London, Leina Taylor embarked on a 5-month internship focused on Japanese paintings conservation in Yamagata—a small city in the northern Tohoku region of Japan. During her time there, she deepened her understanding of traditional materials and techniques, as well as the nuanced differences in conservation philosophies between the UK and Japan.