1. Why the Name Craypas Combines Two Art Materials
Craypas was invented in 1925 by the company that became Sakura Craypas. It was developed as a unique Japanese material that combined two strengths: how well crayons stick to paper and how bright pastel colors are [1]. The name itself reflects this goal, taking "Cray" from Crayon and "Pas" from Pastel [2].
In everyday life, people sometimes call any oil-based stick material "Craypas." However, "Craypas" is actually a trademark owned by Sakura Craypas in Osaka. The general name for this type of material is "oil pastel" [3]. So, what was missing from regular crayons and pastels? The answer lies in how art classes were taught at that time.
2. Why Art Classes Once Focused on Copying Samples
When Craypas was invented, children’s art education focused mainly on copying samples [3]. Whether a child could copy well was important, and there were few opportunities for students to draw what they saw or felt using their own colors and lines.
A movement began that valued letting children draw freely based on their feelings [3]. Craypas is explained as being made to support this new approach. When there is no sample to copy, a child must decide the colors and shapes on a blank page themselves. In this situation, how easy the tool is to use becomes very important.
3. Why Hard Crayons Were Bad at Covering Large Areas
Crayons at that time were hard. They were good for drawing lines but poor at covering wide areas [3]. For scenes like the sky, sea, or ground, where you want to cover a large space with color, crayons did not spread well even when rubbed.
So, Craypas was made to be soft and easy to spread. It could handle both lines and wide areas. Like powdered pastels, it also allowed colors to be mixed together [3]. In free drawing without samples, some children use thin lines for shapes, while others fill large areas to show feelings. A material useful for both was likely used often in classrooms. (Note: This specific observation about classroom usage is the author's interpretation, not stated directly in the source documents.)
4. How Painter Kanae Yamamoto Helped Develop and Spread Craypas
The Western-style painter Kanae Yamamoto (1882–1946) is said to have advised on Craypas development and helped spread its use [2]. The predecessor of Sakura Craypas worked under Yamamoto’s guidance to improve the quality and spread domestic crayons.
Yamamoto was one of the people who promoted free drawing education against the old method of copying samples. Craypas spread among elementary school students across Japan along with this "free picture" movement [2]. This means a new teaching idea and a new art material appeared at the same time.
5. Why the School Curriculum Lists Pas for Lower Grades
In the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Course of Study for Art and Craft, grades 1 and 2 are instructed to use familiar, easy-to-handle materials. These include soil, clay, wood, paper, crayons, "Pas," scissors, glue, and simple knives [4]. Crayons and "Pas" are listed together.
The official document does not use the product name "Craypas." It uses the word "Pas." Since "Craypas" is a company trademark, it is thought that public documents use the general term. (Note: This reasoning about why the general term is used is an inference.) MEXT guides also introduce crayons and Pas as drawing materials [5].
6. Which Drawing Techniques Make Craypas So Versatile
Sources describe Craypas as a material that allows many drawing techniques, such as thick application, mixing colors, and scratching over painted areas [6]. Because it is soft and easy to layer, you can create new colors by stacking two colors instead of just filling in with one.
In the post-war period, when oil paints were hard to obtain, Craypas was used as a substitute for oil paint. This showed its potential as an art material [2]. A tool born for children’s drawings was also used by adult painters.
MEXT guides state that because there are many types of crayons and Pas, it is important to understand their properties when choosing them. They also suggest thinking of them as materials that have form and color [5]. This view sees Craypas not just as a drawing tool, but as a material for checking color and texture.
Looking at the background (moving from copying to free expression), the range of techniques, and its place as a familiar material for lower grades, all these points point in the same direction.
7. How to Test Craypas by Layering Two Colors and Scratching
You can check how Craypas works using things at home. Paint one color thickly on paper, then paint another color over it. Next, gently scratch the top color with the edge of a spoon. If the bottom color appears, it is a success. Do not use sharp objects.
You can also check how two colors mix by rubbing them lightly with your finger. Changing how hard you press changes how the colors appear. If you have crayons, try coloring with the same pressure to feel the difference in "softness."
To read more, the Course of Study is available on the MEXT website. For Craypas history, look at the Sakura Craypas site, Kobe Shimbun articles, and museum exhibition notes.