Making Washi Paper

I attended a short session of making washi paper yesterday at Oriental Art & Cultural Association. 

According to the craftsmen from Japan, the ingredients used for Echizen Washi paper are mainly Kozo, Mitsumata and Ganpi. 

Process of Making Paper

1) Steeping & Washing - to steep barks into pure water for 10 hours to make the barks soft. 

2) Boiling - To boil the barks into the solution liquid for 1-2 hours to melt the main components and let them cool, then proceed with washing away of impurities.

3) Removing harshness & dust off- To float 1-2 barks on the water and remove the harshness and dust by hand. 

4) Beating - To beat the fibers. Well beaten fibers will become strong paper. Only perform by skilled person. 

5) Paper Making - To scoop the wood pulp by screen and reed and to spread them, swing and scoop for few times and leave it on the bar.  

6) Compression & Dry - To compress the paper not to change its shape carefully and dry them one by one. 

7) Finishing - To select the paper, polish, cut and wrap. 

Basically at the work shop, we are giving chance on trial making the washi paper (as step 5 above), to decorate (with dried leave and flower) and dry the paper on heating board. 

My finished deco. washi paper.