San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place/Event: Paper Tree – Origami Store

Address: 1743 Buchanan St., San Francisco

Description:

Located near the center of Japantown’s Buchanan Mall, Paper Tree is a shop that specializes in origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper-folding. The store features a variety of origami supplies, including handmade paper, folding/cutting utensils, and tutorial books for both beginner and advanced origami artists. Visitors can also purchase finished origami pieces created by the Mihara family, which founded and still operates the business. In the art gallery at the front of the store, visitors can also admire finished works by origami artist Linda Mihara (see photo).

History:

The Mihara family has lived and worked in the Japantown community for nearly a century, and their family has been instrumental in helping Japanese immigrants successfully immigrate to the United States. Paper Tree has been a part of Japantown since 1968. It first opened in the East Building of the Japan Center, offering gifts, books, ceramics and origami paper. After redevelopment in the 1970’s, the family purchased property on Buchanan Street and moved Paper Tree to its new home. Initially, the store expanded its merchandise to include office supplies and copy services. Due to increasing demand for origami in the 90’s, however, office products were phased down and origami products were expanded.

Significance:

Cultural, Educational, Social

Recognition of Significance:

Featured in KRON 4 News as “the place for all things origami.”

Sources:

Shizue, Nobuo, Vicky and Linda Mihara, Paper Tree

Other Comments:

Tokinobu Mihara, father of owner Nobuo Mihara, authored many books on obtaining U.S. citizenship, and is best known for creating the first Romanized Japanese/English dictionary. During the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the Mihara family oftentimes teaches origami on tables set up outside of the shop.

Prepared By: Young Kim Date Prepared: 8/4/04