Japanese tissue facts for kids
Japanese tissue is a very special type of thin, strong paper. People sometimes mistakenly call it "rice paper," but it's actually made from the fibers of certain plants, not rice! This amazing paper comes from three main plants: the kōzo plant, the mitsumata shrub, and the gampi tree.
The kōzo plant is the most popular choice. Its long, tough fibers make paper that is super strong and doesn't change shape easily. This type of paper, called kōzogami, comes in different thicknesses and colors. It's perfect for fixing old books and documents. Japanese tissue is also fantastic for making kites that fly high and for covering airplane models because it's so light and strong.
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Plants That Make This Special Paper
Japanese tissue paper gets its unique qualities from the plants it comes from. Each plant gives the paper different strengths and textures.
Kōzo Plant: The Strongest Fibers
The kōzo plant is known for its incredibly strong fibers. These fibers create papers that are very durable and stable. Many types of kōzo paper are used for important tasks like preserving old documents and artworks. For example, Sekishu kōzogami is so special that UNESCO has recognized it as an Intangible Cultural Asset of Humanity. This means it's a treasure of human culture! Other kōzo papers like Kaji and Okawara are also used in conservation to help old items last longer.
Gampi Plant: Silky and Smooth
Paper made from the gampi plant often has a soft, silky feel and a beautiful, slightly shiny look. One example is Sekishu Torinoko Gampi. This paper is 100% gampi and is often chosen for fixing delicate artworks on paper because of its gentle texture.
Mitsumata Plant: For Beautiful Prints
The mitsumata plant produces paper that is smooth and has a creamy color with a lovely sheen. Kitakata paper, for instance, is made from a type of gampi called Salago (from the Philippines) and is often used for printmaking. Artists love it for creating beautiful prints.
How Japanese Tissue Paper is Made
Making Japanese tissue paper is a traditional art, often done by hand. It's a careful process that takes many steps to turn plant fibers into beautiful paper.
From Bark to White Fibers
The journey begins by harvesting the inner bark of the kōzo plant, usually in the fall or spring. The fall harvest is often considered the best quality. Bundles of kōzo sticks are steamed in a large pot. Then, workers carefully strip off the bark and hang it in the sun to dry. At this stage, it's called kuro-kawa, or black bark.
To make paper, this black bark needs to become white bark. The dried black bark is soaked in water. Then, it's scraped by hand with a knife to remove the dark outer layer. After more washing, it's dried in the sun again, becoming white bark.
Cleaning and Preparing the Fibers
Next, the white bark is boiled with a special natural cleaning solution for about an hour. It then steams for several more hours. After this, it's rinsed thoroughly with clean water to remove the cleaning solution. Sometimes, the fibers are placed in a stream bed with a small dam, allowing clean water to wash them over time. This process is called kawa zarashi, or stream-bleaching. Another method, ko-arai, involves beating the fibers with rods before rinsing them in running water.
After cleaning, any remaining bits of bark, hard fibers, or other tiny specks are carefully picked out by hand. This step is called chiri-tori. The cleaned material is then rolled into small balls. These balls are beaten to crush and separate the fibers, making them ready for papermaking.
Forming the Paper Sheets
Often, after beating, the kōzo fibers are mixed with a natural helper called neri. This neri comes from the roots of the tororo-aoi plant. It helps the fibers float evenly in water and slows down how fast the water drains. This makes it easier to form a smooth, well-made sheet of paper.
A mixture of about 30 percent pulp (the prepared fibers) and 70 percent water is then put into a large vat. Neri might also be added here. The most common way to make thin sheets of paper is called nagashi-zuki. A papermaker scoops the mixture onto a screen. They gently move the screen back and forth, allowing the fibers to interlock and form a sheet. Another method, tame-zuki, doesn't use neri and creates thicker sheets of paper.
Drying and Finishing Touches
Once a sheet of paper is formed, it's carefully placed on a wooden board to dry overnight. The next day, the sheets are pressed to remove any remaining water. After pressing, they are brushed onto a drying board to make them smooth. They dry in the sun, then are carefully removed from the board and trimmed to their final size.
Amazing Uses for Japanese Tissue Paper
Japanese tissue paper is incredibly versatile. Its strength, thinness, and durability make it useful for many different things, from art to everyday objects.
Helping Old Books and Art Last Longer
One of the most important uses for Japanese tissue is in the conservation of old books, manuscripts, and artworks. Because it comes in many thicknesses and colors, experts can choose the perfect piece to match and repair damaged items. It's used for fixing tears, strengthening book spines, and reinforcing fragile pages.
Fixing Tears in Pages
When a page has a tear, conservators choose Japanese tissue that closely matches the original paper's color. After aligning the tear, a special paste is applied. A strip of tissue is then carefully torn from a larger sheet using a "water tear" method. This creates soft, feathered edges that blend seamlessly with the original paper once dry. The pasted tissue is placed over the tear, smoothed down, and then dried between protective sheets under a light weight.
Repairing Book Spines
Japanese tissue is also excellent for fixing the hinges or spines of books. If a book's cover is coming loose, a strip of tissue is torn to the right size. Paste is applied, and the tissue is carefully placed over the hinge, extending slightly onto the book's cover and pages. It's then smoothed and dried, often with protective sheets to prevent sticking.
Reconnecting Book Sections
Sometimes, an entire section of a book (called a signature) might come loose. Japanese paper can help reattach it. The loose section is first sewn onto a strip of Japanese paper. Then, this new paper hinge is carefully pasted back into the book, making the section secure again.
Flying High: Kites and Model Airplanes
Beyond conservation, Japanese tissue paper is a favorite material for things that need to be both strong and light.
Building Kites
For centuries, in many Eastern cultures, washi paper (Japanese paper) has been a key material for building kites. Along with bamboo sticks and silk, it provides the perfect combination of strength and lightness needed for kites to soar gracefully in the sky.
Covering Model Airplanes
Since the early 1900s, washi paper has been used to cover the frames and wings of model airplanes. It's especially popular for smaller models because it's incredibly strong yet very light. While many types of washi are used, paper made from abaca fibers is often preferred for its superior strength, especially when wet.
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