WASHI

WASHI, written 和紙(Japanese Paper), is a traditional paper made from wood pulp of KOZO or MITSUMATA, trees original to Japan. By soothing pulp and sometimes small pieces of thinned gold or colored pulp in water repeatedly, it is made into paper with the unique rough texture. WASHI is essencial for SHOJI (the Japanese windows you can see in Tatami rooms) or expensive Japanese-styled walls and lighting interior. People of old Japan would use WASHI for writing, and recycled it repeatedly. The traditional process, which is sadly fading away, uses no chemical ingredients, and is completely sustainable. These days, more expensive and traditional WASHI companies are in trouble because of cheep mass-production WASHI-likes are imported from other Asian countries, and the wood for pulp ingredients are no longer sustainably grown in Japan. So if you are a real WASHI fan, please don't run for the cheap WASHI-likes, but choose the ones made with best ingredients and craftsmanship!