Paper was invented in China by a Chinese Court Official, Cai Lun in AD105. The technique of straining melted pulps to create a piece of paper came from China to Japan with arrival of Buddhism later on. The papermaking technique developed on its own in Japan, using native ingredients such as “paper mulberry trees”(kouzo楮) as raw materials. According to this site(https://mapleandmoon.com/blogs/news/washi-paper-making) "Japanese washi paper is known for being long lasting and versatile. Washi paper can last over 1000 years in the open, while traditional western paper can only last 100 years if exposed to the air." We had a go at paper-making (紙漉き) at Washi Club in Kyoto.
Thumb nail image: Washi paper, created by Tomomarusan, GFDL+creative commons2.5 Special thanks to: Washi Club in Kyoto: http://www.washiclub.jp/
This one is called Tororo Aoi.
I'm sure you know what it is.
It's this one.
It's the one with the lines inside.
I'm going to make it finer.
This is the color that makes it whiter.
It's white?
That's right.
I don't want anything to be white.
I'm going to pour it from where it comes out.
Please pour it.
I'm going to pour it from where it comes out.
I'm going to pour it.
I'm going to pour as much as I can.
I'm going to pour it slowly so that it doesn't leak.
I'm going to pour it horizontally.
It's heavy at first.
The water is dripping.
It's getting lighter and lighter.
It's getting dark.
Okay.
I'm going to pour it like this.
It's pretty dark.
But it's going to be diluted, right?
It's going to be diluted.
If you soak it in ink and let it dry, it's going to be a little light.
I see.
It looks like something from the past.
You're good at drawing.
Actually, I was a kimono designer before I got married.
Is that so?
But I didn't draw a cherry blossom.
What did you draw?
It's a tourist town in Kyoto.
I drew a picture of a tourist enjoying his work.
It looks like green.
You're noisy.
No, I'm not.
It's amazing.
It doesn't look like a cherry blossom.
I've never seen such a beautiful picture of a tourist town.
Everyone tries hard to draw, but it's hard to use.
It's pretty thick.
That's right.
It's a little hot.
Oh, it's hot.
It's hot.
Let's change the brush.
All right.
It's hot.
It's hot and cold.
The brush is burnt.
It's amazing.
It's as hot as a hot plate.
Don't you use a hot plate?
Do I have to use a hot plate?
I think it's because it's easy to stick.
You can use a hot plate.
Also, the way you heat it is important so that the paper doesn't burn.
If you use a hot plate, the paper will burn.
So be careful.
It's getting better.
It's interesting.
