Craftmanship

During the Edo period (1603-1867), paper made in the Iwami region by farmers during the off-season was called Sekishu paper. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), Sekishu Washi paper came to be used as a generic term for paper made in the Iwami region. At its peak, there were more than 6,000 paper-making businesses. Currently, there are four Sekishu Washi Cooperative Association businesses in Misumi-cho, Hamada City.
Sekishu Washi paper has been designated as a traditional craft. There are specific methods for making and drying the paper, and specific materials and tools are used. Craftsmen must pass an inspection by the Sekishu Washi Cooperative Association. One major characteristic is the strength of the paper fibers. Kozo (paper mulberry) is used as a raw material. Its fibers are entangled together to make the paper tough and resistant to tearing when used with its inner bark. Misumi-cho has an environment that allows the cultivation of high-quality kozo, and thanks to the abundance of sources of good water, the entire process from cultivation of raw materials to product processing can be done in an integrated manner. This is a unique feature of the town.
At Kawahira, we use only locally grown kozo. We use traditional methods, resulting in washi paper with a gentle, slightly yellow color.

The raw material, kozo, is a plant that grows up to three meters each year. It is cut into roughly one-meter pieces and steamed, and then it is peeled and dried so that only the dark-colored bark remains. The process is the same for all washi paper: the outer dark-colored layer is removed, leaving the thin, green-colored inner bark that is boiled and broken up.
There are two ways of making washi paper: tamezuki (to produce thick paper) and nagashizuki (to produce thin paper). The tamezuki method is used to make paper washi for Sankaku umbrellas. Kozo and water are placed in a strainer tank, and an ingredient from the root of the sunset hibiscus (commonly known as neri) is added to thicken the water. Products from overseas and chemical neri are used in some other regions. However, at Kawahira, we use only natural, locally-sourced materials.
Next, scraps of paper from origami cranes that have been unfolded and shredded are added, and then the mixture is strained. The washi paper is then placed on a board and allowed to dry.

The difficult part is maintaining the same quality at the desired thickness when adding the scraps of paper. The finished washi paper must be weighed accurately to the nearest 0.1 gram, neither too thick nor too thin. However, the thickness can't be measured during the straining process, because of the water in the mixture. You won't know until the paper is finished. This is where a craftsman shows his skill.
It is also difficult to adjust the amount of neri added. If there is too much neri, the adhesion will be too strong and the water won't drain out sufficiently. However, too little neri will result in an uneven thickness and affect the quality of finished products.
We have just received a request for washi paper made from three different colors of shredded origami paper. Both my father, the second generation, and my grandfather, the founder, made umbrellas from washi paper, so we have the technology for making washi paper for Japanese umbrellas. However, there was some trial and error involved in straining washi paper with the pieces of paper. We started by making smaller sizes of washi paper, like the size of an award certificate, and later expanded to larger sizes.

We are grateful for collaborations with different industries, such as our recent relationship with Sankaku umbrellas. I am filled with anticipation. I sincerely hope that washi paper will become more widely known from the popularity of Sankaku umbrellas. I look forward to the branches and leaves spreading wide as our industry takes root. First, we must establish a strong record of achievement and actively spread the word.