The many applications of washi MORITA Yasutaka Director, Japan Paper Academy Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Tsugi-gami Tsugi-gami (patchwork paper) Literally meaning joined paper, tsugi-gami is beautiful three-dimensional plastic art created with cut or torn pieces of paper joined, overlapped, or stacked with starch, using kiri-tsugi (cut-and-join), kasane-tsugi (overlapping), and yabure-tsugi (tear-and-join) techniques. Sanju-roku-nin Shu (a collection of works by thirty-six major poets), a designated national treasure owned by Kyoto's Nishi-honganji Temple, is Japan's first tsugi-gami art and is regarded as a Heian masterpiece.

Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Dan-shi Dan-shi (crepe paper) Having been redefined several times in the course of history, the word dan-shi now refers to washi with beautiful surface lines and folds added during the molding process. Dan-shi was originally used for wrapping formal letters, but is now used also for wrapping calligraphed lists of engagement gifts, labels for containers of exquisite Japanese confectionery, and so on.

Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Tairei-shi Tairei-shi (court ceremony paper) Tairei-shi was named by coincidentally being developed at the time of Emperor Showa's enthronement ceremony (or tairei, in 1926). This washi, decorated with small, thin flower designs made of kozo, is manufactured in Fukui Prefecture.

Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Chiyogami Chiyogami (paper with colored figures) Chiyogami is paper with designs made mainly by woodblock over-printing. Cut, pasted, or folded, it is used to make paper artworks with continuous designs. Chiyogami also serve as attractive collector's items. This artistic paper is said to have been invented by women working at the Kyoto imperial palace during the Genroku period (1688-1704). After arriving in Edo (now Tokyo), where craftsmen had developed advanced woodblock printing techniques, it became Edo-chiyogami and gained popularity as tourist souvenirs.

Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Moyo-gami Moyo-gami (patterned paper) Originally from ancient China (or kara in Japanese), moyo-gami came to be called karakami. It is made up of two kinds: one with patterns made at the time of processing, and the other with patterns added after the paper has been molded. For the former, a range of patterns is made using combinations of ten basic patterns, each produced with a different technique.

Kozo-shi , Gampi-shi , Mitsumata-gami , Ma-shi , Chiku-shi , Tsugi-gami , Dan-shi , Tairei-shi , Chiyogami , Moyo-gami , Sumi-nagashi Sumi-nagashi Sumi-nagashi (marbled paper) Sumi-nagashi is washi bearing beautiful monochrome or colored cloud-like or wave-like markings made by marbling blank washi with irregular ripples and rings of India ink or colors dripped on the surface of water. From ancient times, washi-producing centers in Fukui Prefecture manufactured these papers for use chiefly as shikishi (thick square paper) and tanzaku (poetry cards). Western-style marbled paper is made with a similar method. Researched by MORITA Washi Shop (Kyoto) All images Copyright. 1997 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.