Awa Washi is a handmade washi (Japanese paper) that has been made generation after generation in Tokushima Prefecture. According to Tokushima Prefecture, it is said to have begun about 1,300 years ago with the Awa Inbe clan (Awa Inbe-shi). Its main raw materials are kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata and gampi, and it is characterized by its resistance to water and tearing. In the Edo period the Tokushima domain protected papermaking, and at its peak in the Meiji era there were some 500 papermaking farm households along the Yoshino River basin. In 1976 (Showa 51) it was designated a national Traditional Craft. Indigo-dyed washi, dyed one sheet at a time with indigo, is one of the items that symbolize Awa Washi. Today the main production area is Yamakawa-chō in Yoshinogawa City, where shoji paper and gasenshi (painting and calligraphy paper) are made, as well as printmaking paper and inkjet-compatible washi. At Awagami Factory (アワガミファクトリー, the Awa Washi Traditional Industry Hall) in Yamakawa-chō, visitors can try papermaking.
Origin
The beginnings of Awa Washi are traced back to the ancient Awa Inbe clan. According to legend, the Inbe clan, who served in the rituals of the imperial court, came to the land of Awa, planted hemp and kozo, and made paper and cloth. The land where the Inbe planted hemp was called Oe (麻植) District, which corresponds to present-day Yoshinogawa City and surrounding areas. However, this tradition has been handed down as a story from the age of myths, and views on the date of its origin differ depending on the source.
History
When Hachisuka Iemasa entered Awa in 1585 (Tensho 13), the domain protected kozo cultivation and papermaking, and hosho paper, shoji paper, hansatsu (domain-issued paper money) and other papers were produced. At the Meiji-era peak there were some 500 papermaking households along the Yoshino River basin, about 200 of which are said to have been along the Kawata River. From the Taisho era onward their number declined under pressure from machine-made Western paper. Awa Washi was designated a Tokushima Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property in 1970 and a national Traditional Craft in 1976, and the Awa Washi Traditional Industry Hall was established in 1989.
Features
Made mainly from kozo, mitsumata and gampi fibers, the paper is strong even when thin and resistant to water. Some products make use of the 'mimi', the irregular deckle edges unique to handmade paper. Indigo-dyed washi expresses patterns using only shades of a single indigo color, and the tone changes with how long and how many times the paper is dipped in the indigo dye. New experiments also continue, such as paper blended with hemp, bamboo or wood pulp, watermarked paper and inkjet-compatible paper.
Techniques
Nagashi-zuki and Tame-zuki
Awa Washi uses both 'nagashi-zuki', in which the suketa (screen and frame) is rocked back and forth in the papermaking vat to intertwine the fibers, and 'tame-zuki', in which the scooped-up pulp solution is held in the frame to form the sheet. Craftspeople form each sheet by hand, one at a time.
Indigo-Dyed Washi
Using sukumo (composted indigo leaves), an indigo dye made in Tokushima Prefecture, the washi is dyed one sheet at a time. Because patterns are expressed solely through shades of indigo, skilled judgment of the immersion time and number of dips is required. The indigo penetrates deep into the fibers, giving the color a sense of depth.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
アワガミファクトリー
The brand of a handmade washi workshop in Yamakawa-chō, Yoshinogawa City, run by the 藤森 (Fujimori) family. In 1952 藤森実 founded the 富士製紙企業組合 (Fuji Seishi papermaking cooperative), and in 1989 the Awa Washi Traditional Industry Hall opened. It makes printmaking paper and inkjet washi for artists and photographers in Japan and abroad, and also produces indigo-dyed washi.
Official site →How to Buy
- アワガミファクトリー (Awagami Factory: in-house shop / online store)
- Washi and washi products can be purchased inside the Awa Washi Traditional Industry Hall (吉野川市山川町字川東141, Yamakawa-chō, Yoshinogawa City). Its online store also carries large-format handmade washi, art papers, indigo-dyed washi and more.Where to buy →PR
- 伝統工芸 青山スクエア (Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square)
- A gallery shop in Minato-ku, Tokyo, run by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. A 2020 feature article introduced an Awa Washi book cover made of hand-crumpled washi at 650 yen (excluding tax). The items carried change over time.
Hands-on Experiences
アワガミファクトリー（阿波和紙伝統産業会館）
徳島県吉野川市山川町字川東141
A papermaking experience making 1 to 3 postcard-size sheets costs 1,000 yen, 1 to 2 hanshi-size sheets costs 1,500 yen, and the three-hour 'Suki-zuki Plan' (papermaking as you like) costs 5,000 yen. Admission (around 300 yen for adults) is charged separately. Individuals can book online; reservations are required for groups and for the indigo dyeing experience. It is about a 15-minute walk from Awa-Yamakawa Station on the JR Tokushima Line.
View details →FAQ
Q. What is the relationship between the Awa Inbe clan and Awa Washi?
A. The Awa Inbe clan was a clan that conducted rituals for the imperial court in ancient times. They are said to have come to Awa, planted hemp and kozo, and made paper and cloth, and this is regarded as the beginning of Awa Washi. However, this is a legend from the age of myths, and no reliable records showing their connection to papermaking are known.
Q. What is Awa Washi used for?
A. It has long been used for gasenshi, shoji paper, mounting paper for scrolls and screens, wrapping paper and more. Today, besides processed goods such as postcards, business cards and coasters, large-format washi for interiors and lampshades are also made. Its art papers for printmaking and photography are used by artists in Japan and abroad.