Feature

WASHI: STRENGTH, BEAUTY & ENDLESS POTENTIAL

Washi

Tradition andNew Possibilities

Produced in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture,a major producer of washi, or traditional
Japanese paper, Echizen Washi enjoys along, 1,500-year history. We interviewed Sugihara
Yoshinao, the president of Sugihara Washipaper,
Inc., which began as an Echizen Washi wholesaler
in 1871, about the history, features and future
possibilities of washi.
How did washi begin?
It is said that paper made from hemp wasintroduced to Japan from China around theseventh century. To make paper from hemp,people flaked fibers off of hemp by cutting ormashing it. But the fibers were so long and strongthat it took a lot of time and effort to make paper.
That is why people came to use plants native toJapan, such as kozo and gampi. If these plants
are boiled with the ash with which the plants
were burned, their fibers can be flaked easily.
In the Nara period (710–794), Japanese people
needed so much paper for Buddhist sutras andtax records that the government spread papermaking techniques nationwide. Soon paper
was made in many parts of the country, suchas Echizen, Mino (Gifu Prefecture) and Sekishu(Shimane Prefecture), and excellent paper cameto be accepted for the payment of taxes. In theHeian period (794–1185), people also establisheda technique called nagashisuki, for making highquality paper. Since then, washi has been used
for a wide range of purposes, including official
documents, art and daily commodities.
What are the characteristics of washi?
Because washi is made from intricately

Photo: Aizawa Tadashi

6| highlighting japanintertwined fibers 5 to 10 millimeters long, it isvery strong. In addition, because it is almost freefrom chemicals, it is not susceptible to chemicalchanges and can last for a long time. Japan’s oldest
paper, made in 702, is kept inside the Shosoin in
Nara Prefecture, which houses treasures of the
Nara and Heian periods.
Features unique to washi also make it ideal forshoji, fittings such as windows, sliding doors andpartitions. When the sunlight filters through shoji
made of washi, the whole room is filled with softlight. This is because the intricately intertwined
washi fibers disperse light. Furthermore, because
the air between the washi fibers absorbs humidity
or retains heat, the shoji can also have insulatingand humidity-adjusting effects.
In what fields have you seen an increase in the
demand for washi in recent years?
One is architecture. Washi has been used more
widely as a material in the interiors of hotels,
restaurants and offices. Washi with its beautiful,natural texture is rated highly abroad as well andour washi is used in many places, such as theshow windows of a perfume maker in Paris, sushi
bars and law offices in New York and restaurants
in Canberra, the capital of Australia.
Washi attracts a lot of domestic andinternational attention in the art arena as well.
Washi has been used for artwork, including
calligraphy and ukiyo-e woodblock prints, sinceancient times. But in recent years, we havereceived an increasing number of orders for washi
for particular works from artists in a wide rangeof fields, such as calligraphy and modern art,
because the artists are fascinated with washi’sSugihara Yoshinao, the presidentof Sugihara Washipaper, Inc.,
with samples of Echizen Washi
paper products

durability and its natural texture. One of thoseartists is Richard Serra, an American sculptor
internationally renowned for his work with hugemetal plates. He has used washi for woodblock
works for about fifteen years and we send him
washi almost every month.
What future possibilities do you think washi has?
Kozo, a raw material for washi, can be harvested
every year and mitsumata every three years. New
shoots soon sprout from freshly reaped stock. Inaddition, compared with general paper, just asmall quantity of water and chemicals is used tomake washi. Washi can also last for a long time.
As this shows, washi is environmentally friendly.
That is why I believe that we can contribute to
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) bypopularizing washi.
In addition, with more and more people
fascinated with and purchasing materials for
handwritten letters, a long-established stationery
store in Tokyo has been increasing its stock ofrolled letter paper in recent years. As society isbecoming more and more digital, more and more
people are reconsidering the analog ways of doingthings. Considering this trend, in addition toproducts for building interiors, we aim to further
increase the use of washi products that can be usedeasily as communication tools by ordinary people,
such as postcards, letter paper and business cards,
both inside and outside the country.

Interview by SAWAJI OSAMU

MARCH 2020

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