Washi Paper from Japan

Washi art papers from Japan are highly prized. The art traditions of Asia seek different properties from the paper medium than those valued by artists from Western cultures. While some Japanese papermakers are now using Western techniques and wood pulps, there are still so many things to love about Japanese paper. There is a difference in the feel of the paper, the strength, the application of sizing and texture, and the absorbency. Here are some descriptions of the different papers that are called washi.

Hosho is high end paper that is handmade from kozo fibers and has four deckled edges. Hosho is absorbent which makes it a good choice for woodblock prints. The sheets are strong and the are available acid free. Machine made hosho paper is also available and is popular for calligraphy. Kozo is a shrub whose bark is processed into paper. Kozo is grown as a managed crop.

Kozo paper is thinner than hosho and has smaller pores. Because it is less absorbent, kozo is suited to a wider variety of art projects, including calligraphy, printing, pencil, charcoals, and watercolor. If the paper has not been bleached, there is a definite mottled appearance. Paper with a high percentage of kozo fibers is used for repair work in book conservation projects. Kozo paper is also used by basketmakers because of its strength.

Moriki paper is made with a combination of kozo and sulfite. Moriki is both thinner and less absorbent that kozo. It can be recognized by its translucency. Moriki is a popular choice when working with pastels. The strength of moriki makes it a good choice for mending leather board fatigue and tears. Moriki is also a good choice for letterpress art.

Mulberry is another word for kozo. Mulberry paper is more opaque than moriki. It is ruined by erasures which gives it limited use for pencil drawings. Mulberry is widely used in linoleum and woodblock printing. One joy of mulberry is the ease with which it rips. Use a wet brush to draw a line of water where you want to tear the paper. Wait a moment for the water to be absorbed, and then slowly tear the paper fibers. The deckled edge is always lovely.

Troya is also made from kozo. Troya is very thin and porous. Inks and paint will flow through the paper before it is absorbed. Many artists use a blotter beneath the troya sheet when they are working. Troya is used to great effect with wood engravings. Troya is machine made and can be as thin as tissue paper.

Gasen is the Chinese word. Gasenshi is the Japanese word. Gasenshi was originally made from gampi and rice straw. Today, it is more often made from kozo, straw, and bamboo. The paper is thin and has a smooth surface that endears it to calligraphers. There are variations available today that are made "using natural materials like jute, flowers, grass, silk, bark, wool, straw, and cotton threads, banana, rags and other organic & recyclable materials." Gasenshi sometimes has a sizing added as a finish to slow the absorption of the inks.

Torinoko is the paper that looks like eggshells. It is made from gampi which is a plant with short, thin fibers. The gampi plant is slow growing, so the fibrous material is quite dear. Torinko paper is long lasting. It was used for the Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919 that ended World War I. As the plant becomes more rare, torinoko is more often made with a combination of kozo and mitsumata. Mitsumata has a shorter fiber than kozo and creates a softer surface on the paper. Generally, one side of the paper is like vellum and the other is more textured. Torinoko is often used with watercolors.

Masa is truly a paper for the watercolor artist. It is made from sulfite pulp. This machine paper will completely fall apart if it is soaked in water. Some artists work on the masa, then crunch it into a ball and soak it for a few seconds in a bucket of water, open it up to dry flat (it is very fragile when it is wet), and finally glue it to (Western) watercolor paper to create the desired effect. This machine made paper is flat on one side and textured on the other. The flat shiny side is the surface that artists use.

Sources
Hosho Paper, http://www.dickblick.com/products/hosho-paper/
Types of Paper, http://www.trueart.info/types_of_paper.htm
Japanese Paper, http://www.japanesepaperplace.com/abt-japanese-paper/who-uses-washi.htm
Legion Conservation Papers, http://www.legionpaper.com/Our-Collection/By-Type/Conservation_Board.htm#anchor_description
Kamagai Calligraphy Papers, http://www.yamecci.or.jp/kikaiwashi/kumagai/eng/prod2/contents.html
Torinoko Gampi Paper, http://handicraft.indiamart.com/products/paper-products/gampi-paper.html