WASHI/Japanese Paper
SPECIAL PAPER OF JAPAN, THE ART THAT REFLECTS THE SPIRIT
E THE SOUL OF ITS PRODUCER.

The chronicles of Japanese history written in the 7th Century record that the Chinese method of papermaking was brought to Japan by a Buddhist monk in 610 A.D. Some years later, Kozo and hemp fibers, already grown for use in textiles, were also employed due to the more resistant paper they produced.
Papermaking techniques spread throughout the country, and the original
process evolved into the Nagashizuke Method which uses long Kozo fibers and Neri, a viscous substance extracted from a type of tuber.
“The art of papermaking began to reflect the soul and spirit of the papermakers”, handed down from generation to generation. WASHI has become an integral part of Japanese culture and designates the paper made from the bark of three shrubs: KOZO, GAMPI, and MITSUMATA.
Of WA (japanese or oriental) and SHI (paper).

KOZO – This bark is the raw material for approximately 90% of the paper. This shrub is native to the desert-like mountains of Shikoku and the Kyushu islands.

GAMPI – Found in warm climates, its fibers are of the highest quality.
The paper made from it is translucent and has a shiny texture.
As the plant can not be cultivated, the paper is rare and expensive.

MITSUMATA – Native to China, it has been used for papermaking since 1614. Its fibers are soft, fine, shiny, and suitable for printing, its principal use being the manufacture of bank notes for the Bank of Japan.

In 1996, I, Cecília Massae Tamaki Suzuki, and Lucilla Inoue decided to embark on opening a firm to import WASHI paper. We discovered that Inomachi was the best paper available for printing engravings and was often used by great American and European masters. As an artist myself, making lithographs on Fabriano and Arche paper, I was anxious to try it.
Though I was nearly sixty and Mrs. Inoue was over seventy, we began our adventure.
WORLD PAPER is the exclusive Latin American representative for WASHI papers and imports Moriki Paper from Japan and Hiromi Paper from Los Angeles in the United States.
Currently, we offer more than 500 types of paper, recommended for restoration, art (washi-ê, tigiri-ê, kiri-ê, origami, etc.), decoration (partitions, doors, lampshades, folding screens, etc.), printing (cards, wedding and 25th and 50th wedding anniversary invitations, etc.), bookbinding, packaging, decoupage, etc.