Field Survey and Local Discussions for the Sustainable Supply of Funori
The Center for Conservation Science of Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs to conduct research on “Tools and Raw Materials Used in Fine Arts and Crafts.” We are carrying out this project in collaboration with the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems and the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In this regard, on May 13-14, 2025, we visited Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, to conduct a survey on a material called “funori.”
Funori is a collective term for species of seaweeds belonging to the Genus Gloiopeltis in the Family Endocladiaceae, with ma-funori (Gloiopeltis tenax) and fukuro-funori (Gloiopeltis furucata) being the primary varieties used in a variety of applications. Funori is often bleached, sun-dried, and processed into a sheet-like form known as “ita-funori.” Paste made by cooking funori in water is widely used in the production of arts and crafts (such as textiles, plaster, brushes, and so on) and in cultural property restoration. In particular, its solubility in water makes it highly valued in restoration works, as it can easily be removed with water. Based on this characteristic, funori is used for temporary surface coating to protect artworks during restoration. Conservators also consider it to have a cleaning effect, making it an indispensable material for cultural property restoration.
However, due to a shortage of workers and changes in the environment, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain funori.
Most of the funori used as adhesive is harvested in Tsushima and the Goto Islands. For this survey, we visited Kamitsushima and Mitsushima, which have fishermen’s cooperatives, accompanied by Mr. OKAMURA Kazuyuki of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Mr. OWAKI Toyohiro of Owaki Manzo Shoten Co., Ltd., a valuable manufacturer in the production of dried funori, along with representatives from the Nagasaki Prefecture of Fisheries Co-operative Association. We held a lecture meeting with seaweed harvesters about the uses and importance of funori, with lectures about the methods of funori cultivation by Ms. SAITSU Mako of the Tsushima Fisheries Industry Extension and Guidance Center, Tsushima Development Bureau, Nagasaki Prefecture, and representatives from TOBUNKEN, followed by a meeting to discuss stable supply. The participants expressed great interest in the efforts to increase production mentioned by Ms. SAITSU, making it a very valuable opportunity for discussion. We also inspected the local harvesting sites and observed the growth conditions of funori.
In the current situation in which the procurement of tools and raw materials is becoming difficult, this was a valuable opportunity to once again recognize the importance of collaboration and cooperation among various organizations to move forward together.