WASHI | More Than Business Cards
Social media and professional networking services have rendered traditional business cards obsolete, allowing people to connect online without ever meeting in person. How can we redefine networking—shifting the focus back to genuine relationship building?
“When one introduces you to another, you do not bypass the one to engage with the other.”
Cultural Context In Kyoto, exchanging business cards is more than a formality—it is a ritual marking the first meeting, the opening of gateway into one’s network. This tradition reinforces the importance of trust building, making every exchange meaningful. Business cards remain prevalent here because they carry the respect one has for another.
Problem As our stack of business cards pile up, how can we prevent them from reducing to mere paper? Can our business cards bring back memories of our first encounter?
Solution WASHI is a handcrafted business card that serves as a physical key to one’s digital network. Unlike traditional business cards or the so called e business cards, WASHI does more than share contact details—it tracks and visualizes the relationships one has built across specific domains and can grant access to it with a single tap.
How It Works
Meet & Connect – Establish new relationships in-person while preserving your networks digitally.
Tap & Exchange – Grant access to your network by tapping WASHI on a smartphone—no app required.
Visualize & Predict – See your network grow in real-time, while simulating future connections based on prior networking patterns.
Design WASHI is designed to physically and digitally reflect one’s specific network domain, whether it’s in creative industries, academia, AI, research, or beyond.
Tiers WASHI symbolizes one’s status, credibility, and influence across myriad domains
WASHI (White)
WASHI (Gold)
WASHI (Black)
Ko Kado, has been crafting karakami on washi for Hiroshi Sugimoto and the late Sakamoto Ryuichi.
Craftsmanship Traditional paper-making values technique and materials over concept or artistry. The mastery of craftsmanship is what makes each WASHI unique and valuable.
Technology WASHI is built with ultra-thin NFC chips embedded in handmade washi paper. This simplicity ensures that anyone can create their own WASHI and connect to our networking system. See the core components below:
Handmade Washi Paper – Crafted using traditional techniques to ensure the best hand feel.
Ultra-Thin NFC Chip – Enables instant, tap-to-connect functionality with no app required.
Networking System built on React – Individuals’ links and lineage of introductions preserved on Neo4j’s graph network and visualized through force-graph.
Next Steps We are in the process of embedding AI technology and dynamic material into WASHI
Progressive Chain Networking (Patent Licensed) – AI recommendation system analyzes networking patterns to offer insights on how ones’ connections can grow most effectively, suggesting optimal areas for expansion.
Color-Changing WASHI (In R&D) – Thermochromic and electrochromic coatings that allow WASHI to visibly evolve based on an individual's network, making each card a living reflection of their holders’ growing network.
Access our growing collection of artworks, crafts, and exclusive products. Be invited to upcoming exhibitions, events, and artist collaborations (20% of your subscription goes directly into funding future artists' exhibitions)
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ko Kado for his craftsmanship.
For more information, visit Kamisoe’s Website
