Mino Washi is a handmade Japanese paper that has been crafted in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, for over 1,300 years. It is known for having been used in a household registration document from 702 (the 2nd year of Taiho) preserved at the Shosoin Repository in Nara, making it one of Japan's three most celebrated types of washi. Made from kozo, mitsumata, and gampi fibers, its defining characteristic is combining seemingly contradictory qualities: thinness and even texture with remarkable strength. During the Edo period it received official protection from the shogunate as a premium paper for shoji screens. Among its varieties, 'Hon-Minoshi,' which preserves the traditional production method, was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. Designated a national Traditional Craft in 1985, papermaking artisans in and around Mino City continue to pass down the technique today.
Origin
Mino Washi has a long history: the Shosoin Repository in Nara preserves Japan's oldest surviving paper, a household registration document from 702 covering the three provinces of Mino, Chikuzen, and Buzen, suggesting Mino Washi has a history of over 1,300 years. It was also used as paper for copying sutras during the Nara period, and the region has long been known as a papermaking center.
History
During the Edo period, Mino Washi gained a reputation as a high-quality paper for shoji screens and received generous protection as paper supplied to the Edo shogunate. In the modern era, the technique of handmade washi continued to be passed down mainly in Mino City, and in 1985 it was designated a national Traditional Craft under the name 'Mino Washi.' Among its products, 'Hon-Minoshi,' made using the traditional tools, materials, and techniques, was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
Features
The appeal of Mino Washi lies in its delicate, soft texture combined with remarkable strength, durability, and even, unblemished thinness. Made from kozo, mitsumata, and gampi fibers, it is also used as a material for mounting paper, Gifu Chochin lanterns, Mizu Uchiwa fans, and Japanese umbrellas, among other crafts. 'Hon-Minoshi' is the finest grade, made using tools, materials, and techniques designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Harvesting and steaming the raw material
The bark of trees such as kozo is steamed and stripped, impurities are removed, and it is then boiled in a kettle to soften it.
- 2
Removing debris
The boiled fibers are rinsed in clear running water and any debris or impurities are carefully removed by hand.
- 3
Beating (kokai)
The fibers are beaten to loosen them into a state suitable for papermaking.
- 4
Sheet forming
Using the 'nagashi-zuki' technique, the papermaker rocks the mold back and forth and side to side to evenly interweave the fibers into a thin sheet.
- 5
Drying
The formed sheets are pressed onto boards or a drying machine and dried in the sun or with heat to finish.
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Artisans & Workshops
澤村正
A papermaker who has practiced the craft for nearly 70 years in the Warabu district of Mino City, and honorary chairman of the Hon-Minoshi Preservation Society. He is one of the certified holders of the technique for the nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property 'Hon-Minoshi,' and has also produced shoji paper for the Kyoto State Guest House.
How to Buy
- Mino Washi no Sato Kaikan
- A theme park dedicated to Mino Washi in Mino City. In addition to demonstrations of papermaking, it exhibits and sells Mino Washi products.Where to buy →PR
- Furukawa Shiko 'Shiyu'
- Founded in 1835, this Mino Washi specialty shop is located in the Udatsu no Agaru Machinami historic townscape. It offers a wide range of goods, from paper stationery such as letter paper and small envelopes to Mino Washi itself.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
美濃和紙の里会館 紙すき体験
岐阜県美濃市蕨生1851-3
Takes about 20 minutes; experience fee starts around 500 yen. Visitors can try papermaking using 100% kozo fiber and the same tools used by the artisans.
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