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Living with washi World Papers and Washi The discovery of paper The development of Japanese washi Chinese paper moves west Washi and its reputation The development of Western papers Old yet new: the future of washi The spirit of washi in daily life Living spaces and decoration Food preparation and serving Etiquette and manners Annual events and festivals Washi products a la carte The many applications of washi Kozo-shiGampi-shi Mitsumata-gami Ma-shiChiku-shiTsugi-gami Dan-shiTairei-shi Chiyogami Moyo-gamiSumi-nagashi The "orikata" of Japanese wrapping Washi's Charm as Depicted by Modern Artists High-performance paper What is high-performance paper? The industrial use of high-performance paper Japan's high-performance papers Future prospects Kansai's handmade washi villages Fukui, Osaka, Kyoto Hyogo, Mie, Shiga Nara, Wakayama, Tokushima Kansai and washi: an enduring relationship of richness Invented in ancient China, paper made its way to Japan where it became washi, or Japanese paper, adapted by unique materials and new manufacturing methods. Washi made particularly rapid development in the Kansai, where it became closely related to the country's ancient capital of Nara, the growth of Buddhism, and the national paper mills that were located at Heiankyo. Thus, with a history of some 1,200 years, washi has come to be used in a variety of ways and places, ranging from writing and Shinto ceremonies to clothing, housing materials, and a range of important occasions. Although the use of western paper has similarly increased, washi continues to be used in everyday life as something for which, in some cases, there is simply no substitute. In recent years, it has been found newly attractive as a material for use in contemporary art, and artists from Kansai working around the world are receiving ever greater acclaim. In addition, the papermaking villages of the Kansai region continue to pass on the traditional handmade techniques and paper-related traditions. In the Kansai, a region which itself envelopes and is intertwined with washi, one can see some of this richness that is Japanese culture. All images Copyright. 1997 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.