Info über Awagami und Washi Papiere (engl.)

About Awagami Factory

“Awagami Factory” is a brand of Japanese washi papers produced solely in Tokushima, Japan. Awagami operates on 8 generations of family knowledge and skill focusing on quality and refinement within this world-heritage craft. Responding to the needs of artists and creators, Awagami strives to incorporate washi paper into contemporary society and is known as a modern-day facilitator of washi culture. Besides creating the worlds most trusted Japanese papers, Awagami also operates a paper museum, runs international papermaking workshops, maintains an ongoing artist-in-residency program and a multi-disciplinary printmaking lab. The mill also collaborates with artists on custom-made papers and has most recently created the Awagami International Miniprint Exhibition; a juried printmaking show. It is Awagami’s desire to promote the beauty of Japanese washi and to proudly pass washi culture on to the next generation….and then well on into the future.

Awagami's Techniques and Products

The traditional method of making washi by hand, known as “Nagashisuki”, has been adapted for machine paper manufacturing. Traditional papermaking fibers such as kozo and mitsumata are carefully prepared for a very slow-running machine so as to create a glossy textured natural paper that is very similar to handmade washi.  These machinemade papers are beautiful and resilient like their handmade counterparts.

Handmade Paper

Awagami's craftspeople use ancient papermaking techniques like “Nagashisuki” and “Tamesuki” to carefully make paper one sheet a time. Production handmade papers are regularly made as are specialty handmade sheets that make use of the distinctive handmade deckled edges. The mill has made unique handmade custom papers with beads, wod chips, dried flowers & seeds.  Awagami’s special thick papers (made using the “Tamesuki”) method are particularly populr and can't be made with mechanical papermaking methods. Additionally, a variety of frames are on hand to make paper in a variety of large sizes to respond to artist requirements. Depending on the production lot, special papermaking equipment can be made by special order. The maximum paper size that can be made is approximately 2.4m by 3.5m.