Narrator: This is a technique called dobari.
It's the most difficult step out of hundreds
in making wagasa, or traditional Japanese umbrellas.
If the paper is misaligned by even a fraction,
the umbrella can't be sold.
While functional,
these umbrellas are considered works of art
and can sell for $300 to $3,000.
And though Kotaro Nishibori learned the craft
relatively late in life,
he is one of the few craftspeople
who can make wagasa from start to finish.
Nishibori stays true to the 1,200-year-old process
of making wagasa.
And it's through this art form
that he reconnected to his Japanese heritage.
Creating wagasa begins with sourcing all-natural bamboo.
Nishibori works with various bamboo craftspeople
who sand it down and then cut it into thin sticks.
Once the bamboo is prepared,
Nishibori sews the bamboo sticks to a wooden core
called a temoto rokuro.
This creates the basic framework.
Each stick of bamboo, or bone,
is about 2 to 3 millimeters thick.
The number of bones he uses varies by wagasa type.
This type is called a bangasa.
It needs 48 bones connected to the core.
Next, he begins connecting the bones to each other
with a needle and thread.
This has always been a crucial step.
If the bones aren't evenly spaced out,
the umbrella may not open and close,
or the umbrella could rip after only a few uses.
Narrator: Nishibori first makes a tapioca paste
that he will use as glue.
This is followed by the step
that requires the most precision.
Narrator: If the washi has to be moved around,
the glue will stay on it
and be visible in the final product,
and Nishibori's shop won't be able to sell it.
Narrator: Once he places the paper,
he uses a razor to trim the excess washi,
so there's no overlapping on the umbrella.
He repeats this on each panel of the umbrella frame.
When he is done placing
the last piece of washi on the umbrella,
the glue needs to dry overnight.
The next day it is shaped,
allowing the umbrella to open and close fluidly.
Narrator: Nishibori wraps more washi paper
around the top of the umbrella,
also known as the potter's wheel.
But instead of gluing it,
he holds the paper in place with only water.
Usually in Japan, wagasa is touched by many artisans,
and each one is skilled in a specific step.
The art form is also passed down in a family
from one generation to the next.
But just like Nishibori strayed from the norm
by learning to do each part of the process,
his road to becoming a wagasa craftsman
was also unconventional.
Nishibori grew up in Japan, but as a kid
was exposed to other people and cultures.
Narrator: After finishing high school in Japan,
Nishibori moved to Canada.
Narrator: After two years in Canada,
Nishibori decided to return home to Japan.
That's when he met his wife,
whose family owned Hiyoshiya,
a wagasa shop that had been running since the 1850s.
Through his connection to his wife's family,
Nishibori learned the 1,000-year-old way of making wagasa
and eventually took over running the family business.
Narrator: One of the final steps
includes painting the umbrella with a coat of linseed oil
to make it water-repellent.
Before final decorative touches,
the umbrellas are set out to dry for at least two weeks.
Now, Hiyoshiya has a global customer base,
meaning Nishibori can share
his Japanese culture with the world.
After 25 years, he's become a teacher to his staff,
but he's still learning the art form.