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JAPAN

No other culture has used paper for as many different purposes as has the Japanese. Specific papers are made for lamps and lanterns, room dividers, screens, clothing, fans, toys, wallets, wrapping, painting and calligraphy, to name just a few. The exceptional respect for nature and harmony, beauty and tradition that the Japanese exhibit toward all things is evident in their skill and attitude toward papermaking. In keeping with the philosophy of Zen, the purest white sheet should reflect the beauty of the natural fiber as well as the inner harmony of the papermaker.

The demand for Japanese papers has resulted in the mechanization of many traditional methods. However, hand papermaking techniques which require the fibers to be washed, cooked and formed into sheets are still practiced according to family tradition in many rural areas. Each paper has its own character, like the personal signature of the individual papermaker, and is therefore difficult to duplicate from generation to generation.

The natural fibers used in Japanese papermaking - kozo, gampi, and mitsumata, are extremely durable and strong. The papers are usually unsized as papermakers prefer to vary the fiber content to create different weights and levels of absorption. They are excellent for wood block printing, oriental watercolor painting and calligraphy, chine collé and rubbing craft. The variety of surfaces and colors also offer a wide range of possibilities for collage and decorative and display purposes. Because of their strength and purity, many of the lighter weight sheets are extensively used for paper restoration.

AKATOSASHI - handmade from 100% kozo. Translucent, unusual, deep natural toned sheet made with a large laid mould. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

DANSHI - handmade from a blend of kozo and sulphite pulp and then creped with a strong linear pattern.

ABOUT GASENCHI

The Japanese have for centuries made a type of paper called gasenshi, or 'imitation Chinese calligraphy paper'. Gasenshi is an ideal paper for ink painting (sumi-e) and for calligraphy (shodõ). One of the most famous of the Chinese calligraphy papers it probably seeks to imitate is Xuan paper, which was first produced in Anhui province (central China) during the Tang dynasty (618-906). Xuan papers have always enjoyed a tremendous reputation among calligraphers, and continue to do so today. The highest grade of this paper is made from the bast fibre of the than tree, while lower grades (often used by artists for practice purposes) are made from various ratios of than and rice straw.

*Source: The National Gallery of Victoria

GOYU - handmade from a mixture of kozo and sulphite pulp; white. Soft, unsized with 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

HANSHI - machine made from sulphite pulp. White, laid, student grade sumi-e paper. No deckles. In package of 100 sheets.

HOSHO - handmade of sulphite pulp, 85 gsm in 2 sizes: 19" x 24" and 24" x 36". White with one smooth side and the other, cold pressed. Unsized with 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

HOSHO KOZO - handmade of 100% Japanese kozo. Unsized, off white; 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

KIHADA KOZO DYED - handmade in the Toyama Prefecture (see photo below) of kozo and kozo black bark, and hand dyed with kihada, a natural vegetable dye that produces an unusual dull mustard color. Because kihada is a natural inspect repellent, this paper was traditionally used for sacred and other valuable texts.

KINWASHI - machine made from 100% manila hemp. Also available in rolls. Sheets have fine, straw-like fibers; white or cream. No deckles.

27½" x 52" 30 gsm $5.00

KITAKATA - handmade from a mixture of mitsumata and sulphite pulp. Smooth surface. Also available in rolls. Natural color or greenish buff; unsized with 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

16" x 20" 30 gsm $2.90

KIZUKI - handmade from kozo fiber. Hand-dyed with a mottled surface of medium-dark grey. 4 deckles.

KIZUKISHI - handmade from 100% kozo. Very strong tissue weight in off-white, 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

KOCHI - handmade from a mixture of kozo and sulphite pulp. White and Natural in a cold pressed surface. 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

KOZO # 547 - handmade from 100% kozo. Natural with 4 deckles.

Photos © Victoria Paper Company

LENS TISSUE HEMP - machine made from 100% manila hemp. Neutral pH.

LENS TISSUE RAYON - machine made from 100% rayon. Neutral pH.

MASA 225 - machine made from sulphite pulp. White; also available in rolls. One side smooth, the other cold pressed. No deckles.

MULBERRY - handmade from kozo and sulphite pulp. White with 4 deckles. Also available in rolls. Neutral pH. (see note below)

NATSUME 4007 - handmade from 80% kozo and 20% sulphite pulp. White. Long swirls of kozo fibers embedded on one side. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

OKAWARA - handmade from 100% kozo. Off-white, smooth with fine laid texture. Unsized with 4 deckles. Neutral pH

OKAWARA MM - machinemade from a mixture of kozo and sulphite pulp. Very large in two tones of natural: pinkish or greenish. No deckles; Also available in rolls. Neutral pH.

OKAWARA STUDENT GRADE - handmade from kozo and sulphite pulp. Off white. Soft surface, lighter weight than Okawara. 2 deckles; neutral pH.

ABOUT MULBERRY

Thousands of Japanese papers are made of kozo (mulberry) and, therefore, could be called "mulberry". But this particular mulberry was one of the first Japanese papers introduced to the United States by the now defunct Nelson/Whitehead Company.  Although the name has remained the same over the years, the papermaker has not. Several suppliers offer paper with this name, but the content and manufacturing process are not always true to the original.

Hiromi International used samples of the original to have it duplicated completely by hand process. There are other versions of this paper. It is confusing. If you are looking for a specific grade,  please call for more information.

In the meantime, we are giving you more choices to the right.

OTHER MULBERRY PAPERS

FOR PRINTING

On This Page:

Kozo # 547; Kozo Moriki; Tosa Kozo Natural; Yatsuo

Links

HM6 Kozo Natural; HM7 Kozo-shi; HM-10 Kozo-shi Natural; M0521 Kozoshi Natural; Edgeworthia White & Natural; Thai Mulberry Bleached & Unbleached 45 gsm; Thai Mulberry Oversized

SEKISHU WASHI

Sekishu Washi has a long history spanning 1300 years, and was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1969.The techniques and methods of making this type of paper have been completely preserved by craftspeople in Misumi Town. To ensure even further improvement of the art, Sekishu Washi Cooperative was established, and in 1989 Sekishu washi was designated a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy Trade and Industry.

*Source: Iwami.Com

SEKISHU - handmade from 80% kozo/20% sulphite pulp. Soft, unsized for offset. Also available in rolls. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

SHIKOKU - machine made from a mixture of kozo, hemp and sulphite pulp. In a deep natural as well as white. Strong, resilient sheet with a smooth surface. Also available in rolls. 2 deckles; neutral pH.

SHIKOKU SURFACE GAMPI - a two layer, machine made sheet. A thin sheet of lustrous, smooth gampi is fused together with a based sheet made from a mixture of kozo, hemp and sulphite pulp. Also available in rolls. 2 deckles in a deep natural tone; neutral pH.

SHOJOSHI - mouldmade of kozo and sulphite pulp; white.These small thick sheets have one ultra-smooth surface and one scratchy surface. Excellent for Western printmaking and some drawing techniques. 4 deckles; neutral pH

SILK TISSUE - machine made from a mixture of gampi and sulphite pulp. White with no deckles. Neutral pH.

SUGIKAWASHI- handmade in the style of traditional bark papers of ancient Japan from 100% pulverized cedar bark and hemp fibers. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

TAMURA KOBAN - handmade from 100% kozo. Natural toned. Crisp, sized sheet with delicate laid lines. 4 deckles.

TORINOKO - handmade from kozo and sulphite pulp. White. Soft, strong with 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

TORINOKO BRUSHSTROKES - machinemade of 100% sulphite pulp; white in sie 31" x 43", 60 gsm. Thick, absorbent sheet has been embossed with simulated brush marks. No deckles.

TORINOKO KOZO GAMPI - handmade of a mixture of kozo and gampi. This small sheet has a smooth, satin-like luster with fine swirls of fiber. White; 4 deckles. Neutral pH.

TOSA WASHI IS RENOWN FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN PAPERMAKING. VIEW ALL THE PAPERS WHICH ARE MADE IN THIS CENTRAL REGION OF JAPAN, ALSO KNOWN AS KOCHI.

Go to: Tosa Washi

Keiyu-Sha Paper Museum in Toyama

TOYAMA - handmade from 100% kozo. Off white. Smooth surface embedded with fibers and threads. 4 deckles.

WALNUT DYED KURURU KOZO - handmade of 100% kozo and hand dyed with natural walnut dye to a beautiful, pale, brownish grey.

Walnut Dye is also used in Cave Papers

NARA FUKINUSHI NATURAL DYED UDA - handmade of 0100% kozo grown in the Nara Prefecture and made and dyed by National Living Treasure Mr. Kiroyuki Fukinushi. The sheets are colored by being soaked for a full day in traditional, fade resistant, natural dyes. The resulting colors depends on the growing season, humidity and temperature, thus will vary from batch to batch, and sometimes from sheet to sheet. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

Colors:

click on thumbnails to enlarge

YATSUO - handmade of kozo and sulphite pulp. Strong, soft laid surface. Shown here in white (A1) and natural (A13) 4 deckles. Neutral pH. Other colors available.

Yuku-shi Snow Bleached 10 gsm

YUKU-SHI SNOW BLEACHED - handmade from 100% kozo. Natural. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

BICCHU TORINOKO GAMPI - handmade of 100% gampi and hand dyed with natural vegetable dyes. These stunning small sheets are remarkable for their beautiful tones and lustrous surface. Because they are dried on antique wooden planks, their surface is embossed with a subtle "ghost" of the woodgrain. 4 deckles; neutral pH.

click on thumbnails to enlarge

MORE LIGHTWEIGHT COLORED GAMPI

Hiromi Gampi Dyed Machine Made; Shikibu Gampi-shi; Kathmandu Silk; Usuyou Gampishi