The Craft

What is Washi?

The word “washi” means Japanese paper. Although the secrets of papermaking originated in China, the Japanese developed their process by combining 3 different fibers to create a nearly transparent, extremely resilient paper that can often withstand weather and insect damage. Most washi is made in large automated mills today, but a few hundred families have preserved the craft.

The Materials

Traditional paper production is labor-intensive and complex. Three principal plant fibers are used in the production of washi:

kozo (Japanese mulberry) and
mitsumata, both of which are cultivated; and
gampi, which is typically found in the wild.

Kozo, or paper mulberry, is the most common material used for Japanese paper. It is robust and easy to handle even when wet. It is commonly used for traditional Japanese interior doors, such as shoji (sliding blind doors) and fusuma (cupboard doors). Even though it is thin, it is firm and sturdy, making it ideal for painting, preservation, and restoration.

Mitsumata is known as an ornamental plant in Japan. It blooms with lovely yellow flowers around February. Paper made from Mitsumata has a notable luster and firmness; making it a favorite for various crafts. It was once cultivated in different parts of Japan to be used as a raw material for paper currency.

Gampi (Diplomorpha sikokiana) is a plant of the Zingcho flower family that grows naturally in the mountains. Paper made from gampi has a beautiful pearly luster and has been loved since ancient times for writing and painting. Since cultivation is often unsuccessful, and most crops are self-produced, production has decreased in recent years. Gampi paper, or rice paper, is becoming rarer and more expensive each year.

The Process

The delicate process of preparing Kozo and Mitsumata plant fibers is split into several steps, requiring several days to be completed. First, the farmers have to harvest, clean, and then steam the plants. Next, the bark is removed from the plants, and left out to dry. Once the bark has completely dried out, it is immersed in pure water, boiled, and then beaten into pulpy fibers by hand. Finally, when the pulpy solution has been achieved, artisans can finally sheet the material by dipping a large mat into the water. The mat is shaken to allow the fibers to intertwine and the excess water is drained off. The process is repeated until the desired thickness is achieved. The paper is then left out overnight until it is dried.

Examples of Kozo, Gampi, and Mitsumata with and without bark.

UNESCO video from 2013 providing a close look at the history and manufacturing of traditional washi.

The Steps

Harvesting Kozo

Steaming Branches

Removing Bark

Scraping Middle Layer Bark

Washing Scraped Fibre

Cooking Fibre

Snow Bleaching

River Water Bleaching

Chiri-Tori - Removing Flaws in Fibre

Spreading Fibre on Su (mesh screen)

Drying Paper

Uses

While washi is a material used in works of art (such as calligraphy, drawing, and printmaking), it can also be used in a variety of mediums, such as origami, letter writing, and architecture. Below are some examples of the multitude of things to which this traditional Japanese craft can be applied: