Washi

Washi (和紙^?) is a style of paper that was first made in Japan. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry, but also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat. Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts.

Until the early 20th century, the Japanese used washi in applications where wood pulp paper or other materials would normally have been used. This is partly because washi was cheaper, but also because the unique characteristics of washi made it a better material. The different uses of washi are too numerous to mention, but include the following:

Art

• Ikebana — the art of flower arrangement, also known as kadō
• Katazome — a method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste
• Origami — the art of paper folding
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Sewing
• Shibori — several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern
• Shodo — the art of calligraphy
• Ukiyo-e — a genre of woodblock prints
• Sumi-e — the art of Ink wash painting
• Sumingashi — a form of paper marbling
• Washi eggs — covering eggs with washi paper

Clothing

• Cosplay
• Kimono
• Obi
• Zori

Cuisine

• Tempura

Furniture

• Cushion
• Futon
• Shoji

Objects

• Bags
• Bento box
• Japanese banknotes
• Plates
• Scale models
• Toys
• Umbrellas
• Harae-Gushi, the washi whisk used for ritual purification by Shinto priests
• Loudspeaker cones. Mitsubishi

Events

• Japanese festivals
• Sumo