The History of Technological Developments of the Paper Industry in Japan

Part 6 : The Struggle of Washi Industry and Environmental Concern

Abstract

How was the washi industry in the Edo period? Based on old historical method, they used kozo (mulberry) and mitsumata (paper bush) as raw fiber, prepared pulp and made sheet by hand. Many domains (han) encouraged papermaking as it was an important business to their revenue. With substantial supply of paper, wood block printing flourished in everyday life.
As the Meiji era started, letter press printing and paper carton were introduced as a new way of life, and paper that fit to them, called yoshi, was imported. Washi unfortunately lost its printing-paper market. Then, washi countered the trend. In free spirit relieved from restriction of old domains, new developments, which Genta Yoshii was famous for as one of pioneers, were taken in like use of cylinder machine, new product exploitation and open cooperation. Washi maintained its output that was larger in money than yoshi until 1915, 40 years since the start of yoshi production in Japan. Typical new products were typewriter paper and Tengujo (very thin and uniform paper), and were exported abroad. The volume exported was 350 tons in 1913.
The output, however, decreased drastically after 1920. It was not competitive in price to yoshi, which was produced in a big machine with wood pulp. The washi industry is now producing products of highly functional quality.