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Products

Japanese Papers

In addition to our selection of printmaking papers from Arches, Rising Stonehenge, Somerset, and B.F.K Rives, we are happy to add this assortment of specialty printmaking papers from Japan. The term 'rice paper' is often a misnomer as rice rarely plays a part in the manufacture of papers in Asia. Quite often, unryu papers are often confused with what people believe to be “rice papers”. The term unryu (meaning “cloud dragon paper” in Japanese), is characteristic of paper containing strands of fibre that are added to the sheet to create contrast and texture.

Japanese paper (or washi) is typically thin, strong paper made from vegetable fibers. Japanese tissue may be made from one of three plants, the kozo plant (Broussonetia papyrifera, paper mulberry tree), the mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha) shrub or the gampi tree (Diplomorpha sikokiana). The long, strong fibers of the kozo plant produce very strong, dimensionally stable papers, and are the most commonly used fibers in the making of Japanese paper. Tissue made from kozo, or kozogami, comes in varying thicknesses and colors, and is an ideal paper to use in the mending of books. The majority of mending tissues are made from kozo fibers, though mitsumata and gampi papers also are used.

Japanese Paper Rolls

Japanese Paper Sheets

The following papers are available in single sheets. A variety of papers in a range of white, and off-white, with various surfaces, weights, textures, fiber inclusions, and degrees of transparency. Sold individually per sheet.

Classic Kitikata - $5.75 per sheet	Gampi Smooth - $9.15 per sheet	Ginwashi Tissue White - $9.20 per sheet
Natural colour, 100% Philippine gampi, 16" x 21", 35g.	Smooth, natural-toned background with small, dark inclusions of gampi bark. Machine made. Cream colored, 100% gampi. 25" x 37", 32g.	White, 100% abaca with short fibres. 24" x 38", 30g.
Ginwashi Heavy Weight - $11.25 per sheet	Iwami Natural or White - $10.50 per sheet	Kozuke Ivory (Sized) MM - $6.45 per sheet
Heavy weight, 100% abaca with long fibres. 24" x 38", 48g	Available in two colours, Natural or White. 80% kozo, 20% sulphite content. 24" x 39", 24g.	A good quality, versatile sheet for painting, drawing, and printmaking. Sized. Machine-made. Off-white, ivory colour. 30% kozo, 70% lignin-free wood pulp, 25" x 37", 44g.
Kozuke White (Sized) MM - $6.45 per sheet	Mura Kaji - 10.62 per sheet	Okawara Small - $7.50 per sheet
A good quality, versatile sheet for painting, drawing, and printmaking. Sized. Machine-made. Bright white colour. 30% kozo, 70% lignin-free wood pulp, 25" x 37", 44g.	natural colour, lightly textured surface. 100% Thai kozo. 25" x 38", 26g.	Natural colour. 25% kozo, 75% sulphite. 19.5" x 26", 40g.
Mura Koban - 13.75 per sheet	Tengu-jo Tissue - $5.75 per sheet	Usu Kuchi - $7.20 per sheet
natural colour, lightly textured surface. 4 handmade deckled edges. 100% Thai kozo.13" x 16.5", 40g.	100% kozo, lightweight tissue. 25" x 37", 12 g.	Great for dyeing, as text pages, printmaking and chine colle. Very absorbent, highly translucent, unsized and machine-made. Natural colour, 100% Thai kozo. 25" x 37", 31g.
Sekishu Banshi Mare - $24.95 per sheet	Awaji - $9.95 per sheet
Fibre cooked in soda ash, unbleached, hand beaten; "mare" means best quality. Fiber picked clean & beaten by hand. Technique for making Sekishu designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and by Japan as an Intangible Cultural Property. One of the oldest continuously made papers in Japan, very strong and absorbent, made in Sekishu, now called Shimane. Don't confuse this quality paper with others called "Sekishu" that aren't 100% kozo. Excellent for conservation uses, all forms of printmaking, dyeing; traditionally used for brush writing. Heritage Washi (HW) 100% Japanese kozo, 21" x 29", 26g.	A premium, hand-made paper. Awaji's flowing kozo fibres add subtle texture and pattern. Its thick, absorbent surface is suitable for many artistic pursuits especially relief printing, painting with gouache or acrylics, and collage. 100% kozo, 20" x 26", 109g.

Unryu Tissue - Heavy