What is Echhu Japanese Paper?
Ecchu Japanese paper is the collective name for three types of washi made in Toyama Prefecture. They are Yatsuo washi from Toyama City, Gokayama washi from Nanto City, and Birudan-gami from Asahi-cho, Shimoniikawa-gun.
History
The origin of Ecchu Japanese Paper (Washi) is mentioned in ancient documents such as the “Shosoin Documents” written in the Nara period (710-794) regarding Ecchu Washi (Ecchu-no-kuni paper). Washi also has an extremely long history, as it is mentioned as a crop to be paid as tax in the Engishiki, written in the Heian period (794-1185). Since the Edo period (1603-1868), washi from the Yatsuo region has been used for various purposes including medicinal purposes, and washi from Hiramura was actively produced as paper for use by the Kaga clan, a tradition that continues today.
In the Meiji era (1868-1912), washi production declined rapidly throughout the country. This was due to changes in lifestyles and the availability of cheap, machine-made, mass-produced paper. Demand for washi shrank and the number of production sites also decreased. Despite these circumstances, people involved in Ecchu Japanese paper continued to carry on the tradition, develop new products, and train successors.
In 1984, Yatsuo Washi, Gokayama Washi, and Hirutani Washi were recognized for their traditions and techniques and designated as “Ecchu Japanese Paper (Washi),” a national traditional craft. Today, they are used in a wide range of products, from daily necessities to works of art, and have become a healing presence in people’s lives.
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| Source: VISIT TOYAMA |
Characteristics of Ecchu Japanese paper
Ecchu Washi, made by hand in the snowy climate, is extremely durable and has a unique warm texture. In addition to traditional classic washi, the company is actively developing washi and processed products that fit in with the modern age. The characteristics of Ecchu Washi differ for each of the three washi production areas.
Yatsuo Washi:
Yatsuo washi is made from kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata (mitsumata), and gampi (gampi bark), which are deciduous shrubs. It is so strong and water-resistant that it was used in the bags of the “Toyama medicine peddlers,” and it does not tear easily even when wet. Taking advantage of this characteristic, a unique technique called Katazome (stencil dyeing) is used to imprint patterns and designs on the washi. The colors and patterns created by Katazome are bold and vivid. The colors and patterns created by Katazome are bold and vivid, and the unique texture, which cannot be achieved by printing, is impressive. Another appeal of this paper is that the more it is used, the more it becomes shiny and soft.
Gokayama Washi:
The main raw material for Gokayama washi is home-grown kozo (paper mulberry) grown in the abundant melted snow. Depending on the purpose of the washi, the skin of the kozo is bleached with ultraviolet light, known as “yukisarashi” (bleaching in the snow). The fibers of kozo are strong and long, and Gokayama washi is extremely strong due to its high content of kozo. Various other washi products are also made, including mitsumata washi suitable for craftwork and printing, and gampi washi for recording paper and copperplate engraving paper.
Yebutani Paper:
Hirutani paper is Japanese paper made from home-grown kozo (paper mulberry). It has excellent preservation properties, high durability, and a strong yet soft texture. Another characteristic of Hirutani paper is that one craftsman carries out the entire process from growing the raw materials to completion.
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| Source: Japan Traditional Crafts Week 2021 |
manufacturing method of Ecchu Japanese paper
1. Water soaking or snow bleaching
The dried and preserved white bark is soaked in water, such as river or tank water, for one to three days. Water soaking softens the white bark and removes any remaining debris. Snow bleaching is also performed, in which the kozo is bleached by exposing it to snow for about two weeks.
2. Boiling
In a cauldron, the white bark is boiled with an alkaline solution of caustic soda, soda ash, and lime for about 2 hours. The alkaline solution dissolves the fibers of the white bark as it cooks.
3. Removal of scum and washing
After boiling, the white bark is left overnight, and the water is changed several times to remove all the scum.
4. Bleaching and washing
When making white paper such as shoji paper, bleach the paper with sodium hypochlorite or bleaching powder.
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| Source: Toyamaken Washi Kyoudoukumiai |
5. Dusting
While soaking the paper in water, remove any dust or discolored fibers remaining in the fibers. Careful dusting by hand is important to produce clean washi.
6. Koukai
Koukai is the process of beating the fibers to loosen them. This is done manually with a pestle or mallet, or with a machine such as a pounder or a “peter,” which beats by rotating blades. The fibers that are beaten are characterized by their stickiness.
7. Paper Making (Kamisuki)
Water, softened fibers, and “neri,” extracted from the root of the tororoaoi plant, are mixed in a large wooden tank-like vessel to make paper. The neri is viscous and prevents the fibers from sticking together in the water.
The method of making Koshinaka washi is called nagashi-suki. A bamboo screen is fixed to a wooden frame called a girder, and the paper is scooped out with the screen and spread evenly on the screen by shaking it. After the paper is finished, it is stacked on a board called shikizume to make a paper bed.
8. Pressing
The paper is left on the board overnight, and the next day, a pressing machine is used to remove water from the paper for several hours to a day.
9. Drying
After dehydration, the paper is peeled off one sheet at a time and placed on a baking sheet to dry. Drying can be done naturally in sunlight or by machine using steam.
10. Sorting
The paper is checked for flaws, uniformity of thickness, etc.
11. Katazome (pattern dyeing)
When making patterned washi, patterns are created by katazome (stencil dyeing). The katazome process is characterized by the fact that the dye penetrates deep into the fibers, so that the pattern remains beautiful even if the fabric is wrinkled.
Summary
While the lack of successors in Japan’s traditional industries has been lamented, Ecchu Japanese paper is blessed with young successors, who not only master the techniques, but also preserve the tradition through their young sensibilities by proposing new products that meet the needs of the times. The appeal of Ecchu washi lies in its versatile papermaking techniques, which vary depending on the application, and its advanced dyeing techniques, which are the two main elements that support the quality and design of Ecchu washi products.
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