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is a type of paper
Paper

Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
 made in Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry
Paper Mulberry

The Paper Mulberry is a tree in the family Moraceae, native to eastern Asia. Other names include Halibun, Kalivon, Kozo, and tapa cloth tree....
, but also can be made using bamboo
Bamboo

The bamboos are a group of woody perennial plant evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae....
, hemp
Hemp

File:Industrialhemp.jpgHemp is the common name for plants of the entire genus Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to Cannabis strains cultivated for industrial use....
, rice
Rice

Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
, and wheat
Wheat

Wheat , is a worldwide cultivated Poaceae from the Levant region of the Middle East. Globally, after maize, wheat is the second most-produced food among the cereal just above rice....
. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner.

Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp
Wood pulp

Pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating fibers from wood or fiber crops.Pulp can be either fluffy or formed into thick sheets....
, and is used in many traditional arts.






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Washi(sugihara Paper)
is a type of paper
Paper

Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
 made in Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry
Paper Mulberry

The Paper Mulberry is a tree in the family Moraceae, native to eastern Asia. Other names include Halibun, Kalivon, Kozo, and tapa cloth tree....
, but also can be made using bamboo
Bamboo

The bamboos are a group of woody perennial plant evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae....
, hemp
Hemp

File:Industrialhemp.jpgHemp is the common name for plants of the entire genus Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to Cannabis strains cultivated for industrial use....
, rice
Rice

Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
, and wheat
Wheat

Wheat , is a worldwide cultivated Poaceae from the Levant region of the Middle East. Globally, after maize, wheat is the second most-produced food among the cereal just above rice....
. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner.

Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp
Wood pulp

Pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating fibers from wood or fiber crops.Pulp can be either fluffy or formed into thick sheets....
, and is used in many traditional arts. Origami
Origami

is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper....
, Shodo
Shodo

"Shodo" is the fortieth single by B'z, released on January 25, 2006. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon charts. This song was the opening theme of Case Closed....
, and Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e

, "pictures of the floating world", is a genre of Japanese woodblock printing and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre and pleasure quarters....
 were all produced using washi. Washi was also used to make various everyday goods like clothes, household goods, and toys as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto
Shinto

is the former state religion of Japan and remains the most common name for the nation's non-Buddhist ethnic religion practices. It was formed from disparate local mythologies, beginning with the Kojiki of 712, into an imperial cult called State Shinto that solidified in the Meiji period....
 priests and statues of Buddha
Buddharupa

Buddharupa is the Sanskrit and Pali term used in Buddhism for statues or models of the Gautama Buddha....
. It was even used to make wreath
Wreath

A wreath is a circle made of flowers, leaf and sometimes fruits that can be used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table....
s that were given to winners in the 1998 Winter Paralympics
1998 Winter Paralympics

The Seventh Winter Paralympics were held alongside the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan....
. Several kinds of washi, referred to collectively as Japanese tissue
Japanese tissue

Japanese tissue is a thin, strong paper made from vegetable Fiber. Japanese tissue may be made from one of three plants, the Paper mulberry , the mitsumata shrub and the gampi tree....
, are used in the conservation and mending of books. Washi was developed from the traditional Chinese
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
 paper-making process.

Manufacture

Washi is produced in a way similar to that of ordinary paper, but fewer chemicals are used. It involves a long and intricate process that is often undertaken in the cold weather of winter, as pure, cold running water is essential to the production of washi. Cold inhibits bacteria
Bacteria

The Bacteria are a large group of unicellular microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals....
, preventing the decomposition of the fiber
Fiber

Fiber or fibre is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of yarn. They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissue s together....
s. Cold also makes the fibers contract, producing a crisp feel to the paper. It is traditionally the winter work of farmers, a task that supplemented a farmer's income.

Kozo
Paper Mulberry

The Paper Mulberry is a tree in the family Moraceae, native to eastern Asia. Other names include Halibun, Kalivon, Kozo, and tapa cloth tree....
 is the most commonly used fiber in making Japanese paper. The kozo branches are boiled and stripped of their outer bark, and then dried. The fibers are then boiled with lye
Lye

Lye is a corrosive alkaline substance, commonly, sodium hydroxide . Previously, lye was among the many different alkalis leached from hardwood ashes....
 to remove the starch
Starch

File:Amylose2.svgFile:Amylopektin Sessel.svgStarch or amylum is a polysaccharide carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds....
, fat
Fat

Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. Chemistry, fats are generally ester of glycerol and fatty acids....
 and tannin
Tannin

Tannins are astringent, bitter plant polyphenols that either bind and Precipitation or shrink proteins. The astringency from the tannins is what causes the dry and puckery feeling in the mouth following the consumption of red wine or an unripened fruit....
, and then placed in running water to remove the lye. The fibers are then bleach
Bleach

A bleach is a chemical that removes colors or whitens, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household "chlorine bleach", a solution of approximately 3?6% sodium hypochlorite , and "oxygen bleach", which contains hydrogen peroxide or a peroxide-releasing compound such as sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium persulfat...
ed (either with chemicals or naturally, by placing it in a protected area of a stream) and any remaining impurities in the fibers are picked out by hand. The kozo is laid on a rock or board and beaten.

Wet balls of pulp are mixed in a vat with water (and, in some cases, neri
Neri

Neri or N?ri may refer to:*Neri, a main character in the series Ocean Girl*Neri di Bicci, artistPeople with the surname Neri or N?ri:...
, which is a mucilaginous material made from the roots of the tororo plant) and one of two traditional methods of paper making (nagashi-zuki or tame-zuki) is employed. In both methods, pulp is scooped onto a screen and shaken to spread the fibers evenly. Nagashi-zuki (which uses neri in the vat) produces a thinner paper, while tame-zuki (which does not use neri) produces a thicker paper.

Types of Washi

With enough processing, almost any grass or tree can be made into a washi. Gampi, mitsumata, and paper mulberry are three popular sources.

  • Ganpishi - In ancient times, it was called Hishi. Ganpishi has a smooth, shiny surface and is used for books and crafts.


  • Kozogami - Kozogami is made from paper mulberry and it is the most widely made type of washi. It has a toughness closer to cloth than to ordinary paper and does not weaken significantly when treated to be water-resistant.


  • Mitsumatagami - Mitsumatagami has an ivory-colored, fine surface and is used for shodo as well as printing. It was used to print paper money in Meiji period.


See also: List of Washi
List of washi

This is a list of Japanese papers and names of washi. All these washi are still made today....


Applications

Until the early 20th century, the Japanese used washi in applications where wood pulp paper or other materials would normally have been used. This is partly because washi was cheaper, but also because the unique characteristics of washi made it a better material. The different uses of washi are too numerous to mention, but include the following:

Art
Art

Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music and literature....

  • Ikebana
    Ikebana

    is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .More than simply putting flowers in a container, ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together....
     — the art of flower arrangement, also known as kado
  • Katazome
    Katazome

    Katazome is a Japan method of dyeing cloth using a resist Paste applied through a stencil. With this kind of resist dyeing, a rice flour mixture is applied using a brush or a tool such as a palette knife....
     — a method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste
  • Origami
    Origami

    is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper....
     — the art of paper folding
  • Printmaking
    Printmaking

    Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable of producing multiples of the same piece, which is called a 'print....
  • Sculpture
    Sculpture

    Sculpture is Three-dimensional space artwork created by shaping or combining hard and or plastic material, sound, and or text and or light, commonly Stone sculpture , metal, glass, or wood....
  • Sewing
    Sewing

    Sewing or stitching is the fastening of cloth, leather, furs, bark, or other flexible materials, using Sewing needle and yarn. Its use is nearly universal among human populations and dates back to Paleolithic times ....
  • Shibori
    Shibori

    File:Sunlight filters through tied-and-indigo-dyed fabric.jpg is a Japanese language term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, or compressing it....
     — several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern
  • Shodo
    Shodo

    "Shodo" is the fortieth single by B'z, released on January 25, 2006. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon charts. This song was the opening theme of Case Closed....
     — the art of calligraphy
  • Ukiyo-e
    Ukiyo-e

    , "pictures of the floating world", is a genre of Japanese woodblock printing and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre and pleasure quarters....
     — a genre of woodblock prints

Clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....

  • Cosplay
    Cosplay

    , short for "costume play", is a type of performing arts whose participants outfit themselves, with often-elaborate costumes and accessories, as a specific character....
  • Kimono
    Kimono

    The is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment....
  • Obi
    Obi (sash)

    Obi is a Japan word referring to several different types of sashes worn with kimono and keikogi by both men and women....
  • Zori
    Zori

    are flat and thonged Japanese sandal s made of rice straw or other plant fibers, cloth, lacquered wood, leather, rubber, or?increasingly?synthetic materials....

Cuisine
Cuisine

Cuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. A cuisine is primarily influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or through trade....

  • Tempura
    Tempura

    is a classic Japanese cuisine dish of deep frying Batter vegetables or seafood....

Furniture
Furniture

Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body , provide storage, or hold objects on horizontal surfaces above the ground....

  • Cushion
    Cushion

    A cushion is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments....
  • Futon
    Futon

    A is a flat, about thick mattress with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting that makes up a Japanese bed . They are sold in Japan at speciality stores called futon-ya as well as at department stores....
  • Shoji
    Shoji

    In traditional Japanese architecture, a shoji is a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood or bamboo....

Objects

  • Bag
    Bag

    A bag is a non-Stiffness or semi-rigid container, made of paper, cloth, plastic, leather, or some other flexible material.A bag is used for packaging and/or carrying items....
    s
  • Bento box
    Bento

    is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickling or cooking vegetables as a side dish....
  • Japanese banknotes
  • Plate
    Plate

    Plate may refer to:* Plate * Plate , a type of foundation* A flat piece of metal used in orthopedics to connect the two parts of a broken bone, such as a dynamic compression plate...
    s
  • Scale model
    Scale model

    Sorry, no overview for this topic
    s
  • Toy
    Toy

    A toy is an object used in Play . Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult humans and some non-Domesticationated animals to play with toys....
    s
  • Umbrella
    Umbrella

    An umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against precipitation or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun, and umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain....
    s
  • Harae
    Harae

    Harae is the general term for rituals of purification in Shinto. The kanji can also be read 'harai'. The purpose is to remove sins and impurities , concepts which include bad luck and disease as well as guilt in the English sense....
    -Gushi, the washi whisk used for ritual purification by Shinto priests
  • Loudspeaker cones. Mitsubishi
    Mitsubishi

    The , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese Conglomerate consisting of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy....


Events

  • Japanese festivals
    Japanese festivals

    Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Traditional Chinese holidayss but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs.These Japanese festival has deep root in Nepal.Concept of these festivals transported to China from Nepal then from China to Japan....
  • Sumo
    Sumo

    is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet....

Weaponry

  • Fire balloon
    Fire balloon

    A fire balloon or balloon bomb was an experimental weapon launched by Japan during World War II. A hydrogen balloon with a load varying from a 12 kilogram incendiary to one 15 kg antipersonnel bomb and four 5 kg incendiary devices attached, they were designed as a cheap weapon intended to make use of the jet stream over the Pacifi...
    s


Washi Makers

  • Mino washi
    Mino washi

    is a type of washi created in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. In 1985, it was designated a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry ....
     (Gifu
    Gifu Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan located in the Chubu region list of regions in Japan of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu, Gifu. Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendo....
    )
  • Echizen washi (Fukui
    Fukui Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located in the Chubu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Fukui, Fukui....
    )
  • Ecchu washi (Toyama
    Toyama Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located in the Chubu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Toyama, Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
    )
  • Ise washi (Mie
    Mie Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan which is part of the Kinki and Chubu regions on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Tsu, Mie....
    )
  • Sugiharagami (Hyogo
    Hyogo Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshu island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo....
    )
  • Awa washi (Tokushima
    Tokushima Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located on Shikoku island. The Capital is the city of Tokushima, Tokushima....
    )
  • Tosa washi (Kochi
    Kochi Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kochi, Kochi....
    )
  • Yame washi (Fukuoka
    Fukuoka Prefecture

    is a Prefectures of Japan of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka, Fukuoka....
    )


See also

  • Japanese tissue
    Japanese tissue

    Japanese tissue is a thin, strong paper made from vegetable Fiber. Japanese tissue may be made from one of three plants, the Paper mulberry , the mitsumata shrub and the gampi tree....
  • List of Washi
    List of washi

    This is a list of Japanese papers and names of washi. All these washi are still made today....
  • Genko yoshi
    Genko yoshi

    is a type of Japanese language paper used for writing. It is printed with squares, typically 200 or 400 per sheet, each square designed to accommodate a single Japanese character or punctuation mark....
  • Sir Harry Parkes


External links