The spirit of washi in daily life Unique and irreplaceable Washi products a la carte Washi wrapping paper, "Oil wiping" paper Thick square paper and poetry cards , Lacquered paper Fans, Playing cards, Kites Colored paper, Wabon/Letter paper and envelopes Washi wrapping paper Because different folding and wrapping methods produce a multitude of interesting and amusing shapes, such paper is extensively used. Japanese Design Art-Folding and Wrapping Written by ARAKI Makio, photograph by KOBAYASHI Tsunehiro, published by Tanko-sha

Washi wrapping paper, "Oil wiping" paper Thick square paper and poetry cards, Lacquered paper Fans, Playing cards, Kites Colored paper, Wabon/Letter paper and envelopes "Oil wiping" paper Gold leaf, often used in Buddhist and artistic handicrafts and objects, is stretched thin and then pounded between two sheets of washi. Abura-tori-gami, made with all of its fibers lying evenly, is used to wipe away the oil that rises to the surface of the washi. This special paper was first developed around the start of the Taisho era (1912-1926), and it is now popular with women for its ability to absorb oil from the skin without disturbing makeup.

Washi wrapping paper, "Oil wiping" paper Thick square paper and poetry cards, Lacquered paper Fans, Playing cards, Kites Colored paper, Wabon/Letter paper and envelopes Thick square paper (shikishi) and poetry cards (tanzaku) Paper is used for writing poems in such forms as the waka and haiku as well as for drawings. When paper such as torinoko-gami or gasen-shi is trimmed and affixed to a thick piece of cardboard, the square stiff flat objects that result are called shikishi while those that are long and rectangular are called tanzaku. A unique Japanese handicraft, they first appeared in the Japanese middle ages (from about the end of the 12th century to the end of the 16th). The original meaning of shikishi was "dyed paper," and it was sometimes made with cloud-like or wave-like patterns, but now it comes primarily in varieties of white.

Washi wrapping paper, "Oil wiping" paper Thick square paper and poetry cards, Lacquered paper Fans, Playing cards, Kites Colored paper, Wabon/Letter paper and envelopes Lacquered paper This is made by layering washi on a wooden frame, removing the frame, coating the paper with a thick lacquer-like substance, and allowing it to harden. Thus already-sturdy washi is further strengthened by the coating. Because it was conveniently light and thus easy to carry, it was often used for a wide variety of daily goods. This paper is still popular in traditional handicrafts and the like seen in Kyoto. All images Copyright. 1997 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.