Japanese
Automatic translation

The spirit of made in japan . WashiPaper is miracle.

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MAISON & OBJET　2009
Frankfurt "Ambiente"2008
"Salon du Meuble de Paris" 2006
New york "ICFF" 2005
the day...washiya in PARIS 2004

Not a paper but the WASHIPAPER

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Traditional Japanese paper of a kind never before seen.

SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER, INC. is elevating ECHIZEN WASHI beyond the constraints of pre-held notions about Japanese paper. SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER, INC. is constantly striving to expand upon the already established ideas of what Japanese paper is, and how it can be used. .More specifically, we are working to establish new areas of expression for ECHIZEN WASHI, in order .to build on its long tradition of over 1500 years. .Utilizing our vast experience working with a wide network of highly creative craftspeople, designers .and artists, we at SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER, INC. are encouraging the potential that Japanese paper .holds for surprising and even previously unimaginable uses and applications, far beyond those .normally associated with it. .

 

washipaper making

Artisans who produce ECHIZEN-WASHI As a leading wholesaler of Japanese Paper, SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER, INC. is intimately acquainted with the skills necessary to produce ECHIZEN WASHI. The desire of the craftspeople to pass on the tradition of over 1500 years to the next generation, and to realize new possibilities for ECHIZEN WASHI, is a hope that we also cherish, and we are honored to work with these special artisans:

 

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This is the Home Pages concerning WashiPaper (Japanese paper).
Also Questions and Answers about washi paper (FAQ) has been set to work! Any information of washi paper is available, Habutae paper duplex as well.CHIGITTE NAME CARD SHEETS
I've just had a interesting idea of using washi paper.
PLEASE DON'T PANIC although I might be able to see your mail only once a week because of the business trip.
As each item is in the same page you can see whatever you like (reference).

The Washi made to order. Handmade rough edged Washi which finished in the watermark 【 your original design】

__ ANSWER AND QUESTION (FAQ) __

It is said that Japanese paper turns white with the time.

When it says from the experience till now and it is made, the paper bleached with science medicine and so on turns yellow with the time. On the other hand, it is taken in time's being made, and paper without bleaching turns white. The pain of the fiber, the existence of the remnants of the medicine, and so on may be those causes. It oxidizes, and ozone may bleach impurities. It is the present condition that a definite explanation can't be done as a scientific basis of that action with being disappointed. In some of the districts It is named as snow bleaching in winter, and raw material is exposed to the sunlight, in some of the districts. I waiting for the hint.

Laser printer and Copy(Xerox)

Just try without any doubt. Compare to western paper, you will be able to see every details with washi paper. I suppose some kind of chemical or heat-treat of making western papers cause these differences, there are many kind of unfitted western paper for copying. Even if you use western paper, the ink will get your hands messy. In other words, it's more harder to find the kinda washi paper you can't copy.

Word Processor

The most general type of heat conductive printer, also in case of washi paper. Basically the paper surface should be smooth. Of course you can use washi paper. The paper both sides are smooth, such as Habutae paper, you can print ether one.

Ink Jet Printer

Actually you can hardly find the certain kind of paper corresponds to all types of word processor because the qualities of ink are different. The one for ink jet printer blurs on paper easily, takes long time to be dried. It should be made of thinner fiber to work better such as Habutae or washi paper. (ref.;regular paper for the ink jet printer contains tankal cilika tark aluminum hydroxide and starch to make the surface density more tight.) Also if you use ink jet printer with washi, you can see the improvement of ink quality today.

Simple printer(Risogragh)

Washi paper has worked better on copying even with the simple printer. I guess washi paper doesn't take longer than western paper to absorb the ink. You can see Simple printer fits washi paper.

Are Recycling Paper and Unwooden-paper harmless for the earth?

That is the ecology in some way which is that you can keep and accumulate natural resources as washi paper because mainly made of paper mulberry having 1000year-life. In Japan the rate of collecting used paper is more than 50%(the rate of recycling is 53%), however, why we have to make recycling paper from ones for copying? Those kinds of paper contains chemicals to save natural resources, and its factory pours it into the river, causes to water pollution. (Junichi ISHIKAWA on seasonal WASHI magazine 8) I think the environmental protection makes environmental destruction between "recycling" and "recycling paper".

What is real ecology? What is real environmental protection?

For example; we use the light and hard washi paper over and over again, OR the raw material and products are the part of nature, OR the made of plants growing faster and harmless(Is the true?), its fiber combines naturally, it goes weak when it's wet, it burns when it's fired. No noxious gas, it goes back to the nature if you bury them because they all come from planets , etc... Are they nothing to do with ecology or environmental protection? I'd like to say "That's why washi paper is the ecology" logically. Does anybody have strong theory? Also if you disagree with me in some way, I'd like you to let me know.

Thermal effect, Humidity adjustment

Washi paper with absorbs and evaporates water controls the humidity in the house. Washi paper has thermal effect with its fiber combinations, and its an efficient heating.

UV processing

Washi paper cuts off ultraviolet rays without UV processing. Compare to the lace curtain, washi paper surpasses in cutting ultraviolet rays.

Good for your eyes

Washi paper cuts off the ultraviolet rays but the visible ray. Therefore reading in the room surrounded by SHOJI makes your eyes less tired than under the sunshine. Also it protects from a cataract. The lights covered with washi paper only lets through the wavelength that is good for your eyes.

Air Conditioning

Washi paper doesn't cause mold or waterdropes because it absorbs and evaporates water. The odor merges into water wall, washi paper gets rid of bad smell with its hygroscopicity. Furthermore it hardly causes allege by molds, ticks and house dusts because its absorption gets dusts, and the breathability let air goes in and out humidity. Washi paper makes the air clean, control the humidity in the room. It keeps your living environment comfortable.

Question by Yoshio KORO about air conditioning

I have a question. It says that washi paper has efficiency in air conditioning, but exactly how should we use them? Can we just put the pile of washi paper in the room to make the air clean?

Answer the above question

In this case of air conditioning efficiency means when washi paper is used as shoji or wall paper in your house. Even if you put the pile of washi paper in the room, it absorbs or evaporates water. But it works better when its surface area is big enough to front on the air. Western style is getting into our life. The sash and vinyl cloth have been used more instead of FUSUMA or SHOJI. They are good for sealing up the room, but people started to say it's not really comfortable to life.

All Japan is the washi producing area

Japanese people used only washi paper, so it used be made all over in Japan. However almost all of people made washi as their side business, they made washi paper only in the winter. Then only places they made washi as their job through the year, Echizen, Mino, and Tosa area, have been known as washi production area. If you would like know more detail about these area, refer to "washi no techo 1 and 2".

The definition of washi paper

Originally the skill of making washi was introduced by China. But the paper made in China is not washi, also the paper from Europe is not washi either. The paper used to be made of bumboos or straws with short thin fiber in China. These materials changed into the paper mulberry, something have long fiber, and the development of glossing established washi. Washi is made of 2-15mm fibers (less than 2mm for western paper), and add the dispersions not to stick together into the water. Then it gets slower to filter out of the wired box, so you have to sway the wire (western paper make dehydration under the wire compulsory and artificially). By that process, fiber gets combined well, makes thin and strong washi. The peculiarity of materials makes doubled and brought out using for our life as the Oriental products. (by Junichi ISHIKAWA on seasonal washi magazine 8)

Washi style Western paper made by western paper machine

This machine can be capable only short fiber. The conifers (N, long fiber)2: The broadleaf tree (L)8. Also the beater get cut into short, not to be mushed. The fiber should be same length to make paper. It seems to be sticked together with fiber powder than the combination of fibers.

The function of washi. 7W...Yoshio KOBAYASHI 19961105

1..write,2..wrap, 3..wipe &waste(domestic paper), 4..wear(paper made of synthetic fiber), 5..work(functional paper such as a condenser paper), 6..wits (related to wisdom or sensitivity), 7..world (paper aimed to protect the environment)---Big companies are aiming 1-3. We should aim 4-7! PS. Washi was made for fitting with a writing brush. The paper art has been popular in the States since 70's. Book binding as well. The personnel expenditures are glowing up in Taiwan. (move to Thailand and the Philippines, 130 paper mills, drawing and wrapping paper)The manufactures in China are putting the pressure on us. The pulp output is on the third position getting over Japan. 70% of the output is Unwooden-paper paper.

Ventilation house (the idea of wooden house)

Now, the houses in Japan have the high airtight, high insulation, better efficiency of air conditioning and soundproof, although, each windows is getting smaller and bad ventilation. The weather in Japan makes easy to grow molds and ticks that causes allergy. To make our lives more comfortable to use natural materials such as timbers, soil and washi. Also in case of the fire, the petrochemical woods or vinyl cloth, forms the poisonous gas, and it might kill people. Nature materials should be used for the interior as you can. (Eiji UENO oak village No.220)

What is the real saving energy?

To eat a cultured yellowtail equivalents with wasting 10 times much as energy of eating a natural mackerel pike. To construct one wooden house equivalents with wasting 20 times much as energy of building Kyoto Gosyo every 1 square meter, 5 times more energy on the ferroconcrete building. (Spring Fall column on 19970430 Nikkey newspaper) I think that's the enormous number. Using energy produces carbon dioxide and helps warmanize on earth. It leads to provide many kinds of wasters or contaminants. I feel like being into a maze. So what is the saving energy? I don't think it means to go back to the primitive life though... Then what do we supposed to do...

__ HABUTAE PAPER __

Is the offset 4C print possible?

Primitively offset 4C print is possible. We crush the fiber well before making paper, both sides of paper surface makes strong by size-pressing. But Washi paper can't keep up with the fast spin of printing because the quality is too soft. The printing pressure is set lower as the 4 colored print with 7000 papers par hour on this printer "Komori Risuron 40". Add less ink and set on gentle(low tack). Cleane the blanket regularly. At this point no paper peeling doesn't happen. But I suggest to use more slower.

Where to buy?

Basically you can buy anywhere. Contact regular place you usually buy anywhere. Moreover you can find paper (A4, B5), envelopes and business cards at Kyukyodo in ginza. Tokyu Hands in shibuya 5B has the regular cards. If you have any questions, let me know.

Photograph

GOODS of HABUTAE PAPER DUPLEX

Interesting Ideas. Habutae use.

Chinese medicine package, the blank page of catalog, cover, letter heads, Noh program, wrapping paper for china store, package for telephone cards, pamphlets and calenders for overseas, package for natural foods, for the wall houses, binding for Tanka collection, binding myself history, bills, Sake levels, Tukudani gifts,

　

　

　

　

samplebook

__ INTERESTING USE __

Autograph business card(kinda bad?).

You can see the copy machine or simple printer everywhere. Therefore anyone make their own business cards easily, even put the logo marks by personal computer. It means to run the business with the business cards? It means you can hardly build the confidential relationship with the business cards. (It could be...) Then, let's express ourselves with own business cards! Regular format should be printed on cards in advance. (As you already know from FAQ, washi paper can be copied. ) You can have clear letter with copying than simple printer. Do not forget to have some space for your name. Then you keep an autograph pen with you. As soon as you meet right person, fill your name in the blank. I'll try anyway.

This page is maintained by Yoshinao SUGIHARA.
SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER INC.