Images in and around medieval Kyoto, then the capital of Japan, are portrayed on this folding screen.
The Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum has many artistic creations made with gold leaf, such as kinbyobu (folding screens), Kaga maki-e (lacquerware decorated with gold powder), Koga-zogan (inlaid metalcraft), glass, ceramics and calligraphy. Also on display are tools and information about the processes used to create gold leaf and art work containing it.
Ninety nine percent of Japan's gold leaf is produced in Kanazawa. The name "Kanazawa" literally means "marsh of gold." The production of gold leaf started in Kanazawa at the end of the 16th century. Gold leaf is made of alloys consisting of pure gold, and a very little amount of silver and copper. The gold leaf is pounded evenly to a thickness of 0.0001 mm. The gold leaf sheet that is produced by the pounding is so thin that it will disappear when you rub it with your fingers. Even though gold leaf is so thin that one can see through it, the brightness of the gold is not lost. The brightness and expandability of gold leaf depends on the quality of hakuuchi-gami, which is the Japanese craft paper placed between the gold sheets when they are pounded. Gold leaf made in Kanazawa will never discolor or oxidize making it indispensable for the production of a wide range of artistic creations and other items.
Kanazawa is not as popular a tourist destination as some other cities in Japan because of its relatively remote location between mountains and the sea of Japan. During the Edo Period (early 1600's to the mid 1800's) Kanazawa was the seat of the second most powerful clan in Japan making it an influential city. The city escaped destruction during World War II because of its lack of industry. It is a culturally rich city famous for its seafood, crafts and historical buildings and items. Kanazawa and Takyama are two of the best preserved Edo Period major cities in Japan. Fortunately we saw both of them.
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