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Many Japanese products have become popular overseas for many reasons, and one such example of this is washi paper.

While you may not have heard of this paper type before, that has not stopped people from using it for their projects and getting ingrained in modern Japanese culture. This special paper has even been listed by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” Thus, there are a lot of ways we can use them and learn from this important craft.

So what is Japanese washi paper? How is it made? Read on to learn more about washi paper sheets.

What Is Washi Paper?

The term “washi” comes from wa (和), which means “Japanese“ and shi (紙), which means paper. Washi paper has become notable for its flexibility and wide range of handmade and machine-made production.

It is made from mulberry, gampi, and Edgeworthia plants. Traditionally, it got used for lanterns, lamps, and paper screens in windows and doors in a Japanese home. This is because the paper filters light and has strength from intertwining fibers. 

Washi Paper’s History

For hundreds of years, it has gotten used in Japan, being brought to the country around 610 CE by Buddhist monks who needed them for writing sacred sutras. Its use was then encouraged by Prince Regent Shotoku when he found that paper made in China was too fragile to use.

Because the materials needed to make washi could become taken from nature, many Japanese towns became prime hubs, especially during the winter season. Its handmade nature stayed consistent until the Meiji Era (1868 – 1912). From there, Japan became more westernized and started using mass-produced, machine-made yoshi paper.

Nowadays, washi has taken a backseat role and is now used for more artisanal purposes.

Great Projects to Use Washi Paper

Washi is not just good for writing on or letting light into a room. Many projects can get accomplished with washi paper sheets because of the different techniques and materials it is made from. Some of the most common uses for washi are:

• Binding books
• Washi origami paper
• Material for painting
• Wood engraving or letterpress
• Part of lampshades

You don’t even have to cut washi up to make it useful. You can take whole pieces of washi paper and make them into Japanese file folders.

Use Washi Paper Sheets for Your Next Craft Project

Washi paper has been used by craftspeople and people interested in arts and crafts for thousands of years. With its delicate composition and versatility in how it can get used in multiple professions, washi paper sheets are here to stay as a great material for arts and crafts.

Why not use it for one of your art projects today?

We hope you enjoyed this article about the washi paper. If there are other topics like this you have an interest in, then take a look at some of our other posts.