Washi Paper Making in Japan

Washi differs from Western machine-made paper in both raw materials and production technique. Most commercial paper is made from wood pulp with short, randomly oriented fibres; washi is made from the long bast fibres of the inner bark of plants — primarily kozo (paper mulberry), gampi, and mitsumata — whose fibres interlock in a way that creates extraordinary tensile strength. The nagashi-zuki technique used in Japanese papermaking involves the papermaker pouring a dilute fibre slurry onto a bamboo screen (su) mounted in a wooden frame (keta), then shaking the frame in a precise side-to-side, front-and-back motion that aligns and interlocks the long fibres uniformly. The result is a sheet with no weak grain direction — it can be folded and unfolded thousands of times without tearing, accepts both water-based and oil-based pigments without bleeding, and resists yellowing and brittleness for centuries. The National Archives of Japan stores its most important historical documents on washi; major oil paintings are restored using washi for lining. Washi also transmits light differently from Western paper, with a warm translucency especially suited to shoji screens and lanterns.

Kyoto has several washi workshop venues accessible to visitors. Nishijin Textile Center (on the edge of the traditional weaving district) offers brief washi-making demonstrations and short participation sessions. Kyoto Traditional Craft Center runs half-day workshops in washi making where participants experience the nagashi-zuki shaking technique to form their own sheet, with options to add flower petals or natural pigments to the paper (¥3,000–¥4,500, advance reservation required). For a more immersive experience, Kurotani Washi in Ayabe City (1.5 hours from Kyoto) is an active washi village where several craftspeople produce paper in traditional thatched-roof workshops — guided tours and participation workshops are available. Kiyomizu-zaka and Ninenzaka in Higashiyama have specialist washi stationery shops where the paper can be examined closely.

Washi's combination of strength, translucency, and texture makes it suitable for an extraordinary range of applications. Traditional uses: fusuma sliding doors and shoji screens (translucent panels that diffuse light while maintaining privacy), paper lanterns (chochin), fans (uchiwa and sensu), and the covers of hand-bound books (wasobon). Art uses: calligraphy (sumi ink flows on washi with a distinctive softness), woodblock printing (ukiyo-e prints are made on washi; the fibre structure prevents bleeding), and watercolour painting (high-quality washi has a unique absorbency suited to Japanese painting styles). Craft uses: origami (special washi is made specifically for folding, with uniform thinness), paper cutting (kirie), and washi tape applications. In bookbinding and conservation, washi is the preferred material for repairing and backing fragile historical documents worldwide. At home, washi is used as gift wrapping, card-making, lamp shades, and stationery. Washi coated with konnyaku paste (yam-derived starch) becomes a flexible, waterproof material used for historical umbrellas and rainwear.

Echizen washi, produced in Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture (2 hours from Kyoto by Shinkansen + limited express), is one of Japan's oldest and most prestigious paper-making traditions, with documented production since at least the 6th century AD when it is recorded as supplying paper to the imperial court. Echizen's mountain valley location — with clear soft water from the surrounding mountains — creates ideal conditions for the nagashi-zuki technique. The town of Echizen's Okamoto area is specifically designated as the "washi village" (washi no sato), with approximately 60 paper-making households still active. The Echizen Washi Village Museum (Papyrus-kan) combines a museum of historical paper, a working production room visible to visitors, and a workshop where guests can participate in making their own sheet. Echizen washi is used for Japanese banknotes, traditional oil painting restoration globally, and some of the finest woodblock printing paper available. It was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Asset in 1976.