My Japanese language school organized a field trip for us to the washi factory recently and I had the opportunity of experiencing the traditional way of making paper! Hehe. I have a video for you too but before that, perhaps it would be good to give you an introduction to what washi is all about. *wink*

the noisy bunch! haha. Also probably the best classmates I could ever have. *smile*

briefing by the experts themselves *smile*

my classmate Manu San caught me taking a pic of the whole briefing...hehe

Basically, washi, also known as wagami, is traditionally a handmade Japanese paper commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub, or the mulberry tree. According to wikipedia, washi comes from the words ‘wa’ meaning Japanese and ‘shi’ meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner.

Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts like origami, as well as to make various everyday goods like clothes, household goods, and toys as well as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests. In traditional Japanese homes, the paper screens or 'shoji' (folding screen, like what you see in the pic below) is also made from washi. *wink* Interestingly enough, washi was even used to make wreaths that were given to winners in the 1998 Winter Paralympics. *smile*

picture from http://www.infomapjapan.com/hstore/200806-infospecial.phtml

Washi is produced in a way similar to that of ordinary paper, but with less chemicals. It involves a long and intricate process that is often undertaken in the cold weather of winter, since pure, cold running water is essential to the production of washi. Since the cold inhibits bacteria and thus prevents the decomposition of the fibres, it is traditionally the winter work of farmers in Japan.

Basically the process of making washi starts from boiling the branches and stripping them of their outer bark before being dried. Then the fibers are boiled with lye to remove the starch, fat and tannin before being subsequently placed in running water to remove the lye. The fibers are then bleached and any remaining impurities in the fibers are picked out by hand.

Wet balls of pulp are then mixed in a vat and a traditional method of paper making is then employed. It looks like this…hehe.

I’m no expert but I guess this is a good start ay? Hehe.

At least if I ever run out of a job in Japan then I know where to head to…!!! *laugh* It’s the weekend and as always, my favourite time of the week! Hehe. No need to shoot this weekend so I will have time to catch up on the rest of my task list and work in my pyjamas. Yay! *grin* Hope you’ll have a good one at your end too. BTW, thank you guys for praying for me. My last test results came back as 96.2%. Miraculously! Hehe. God is good. *big-grin* Have a fantabulous weekend ya, and big panda hugs!!!!! Mwahhhh~

with my classmate from Hong Kong Denise San and my teacher Komiya Sensee *smile*

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