What You Need to Know About Washi Paper

Washi paper is a treasure in the Japanese culture used for literary work. It is common among the Buddhists as they used it for promoting their religion, besides, the Japanese royal families used the paper to prepare official documents. Washi paper is made from special materials. When compared to commercial paper, washi is much stronger and durable. Washi is known for its strength, longevity, and versatility. The materials used in making washi paper is different from that used in making commercial paper. For instance, it is made from the outer bark of the kozo shrub of the mulberry family and the mitsumata shrub. The shrubs are locally grown in fields. Therefore, washi paper is environmentally friendly.

If you want to know much about washi paper, it is a good idea to understand its production. If you want to make washi paper, you first need to start by stripping down the out bark of the kozo plant. This is followed by soaking the bark in clean flowing water for some days, letting it turn white and remove impurities. Once white, the bark is then boiled until it becomes soft and then impurities that were not removed in the previous steps are removed before the fibers can be separated by hand-beating. The paper is then turned into pulp and laid into sheets, which are dried, pressed, separated and let to dry.

Today the production of washi paper has greatly reduced due to several reasons. First, there is a shortage of craftsmen to make the paper or screen in which the paper is formed. Also, people who would have taken part in making the paper are opting for better-paying jobs and are traveling to the city to seek better opportunities. Therefore, without labor, the production of washi paper seems impossible. Furthermore, there is a shortage of quality kozo, which is a shrub used in making washi paper. Although people can import kozo from other regions, they are not the best option since they are grown under different circumstances. Cases of oils appearing on paper made from kozo from such regions are rampant. This has affected the market for washi paper.

What is washi paper used for? It is worth noting that washi paper has a variety of uses. The fact that it is much more absorbent than regular paper, it is the best option for letterpress orienting, thin paper printing, high-definition offset printing, laminate, and seal printing. Therefore, washi paper is way too far better than normal paper. Learn more on this page: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/energy-government-and-defense-magazines/paper-and-wood-pulp.