Inshu washi paper

On a map, Inshu washi is anchored in eastern Tottori. Inaba corresponds to the present-day eastern part of Tottori Prefecture, and current production is named in Aoya-cho and Saji-cho within Tottori City. Addresses tied to makers and facilities appear in Aoya-cho Kawahara, Aoya-cho Yamane, Saji-cho Fukuzono, and Saji-cho Karichi, so the old place name sits inside present neighborhoods. In 2003, the Saji and Aoya washi cooperatives merged into the Tottori Prefecture Inshu Washi Cooperative, which brings together 16 members. Its work includes shared raw-material purchasing, technical improvement, and successor training across the two districts.

The time scale reaches back through two concrete markers. The Heian-period Engishiki includes a note that paper was offered from Inaba to the court, and Aoya’s papermaking is described as having continued for about 1,300 years on land suited to paper making. The claim does not need a ranking such as first or oldest; Inaba, Aoya, Saji, and the continued making of hand-suki sheets give the family its historical weight.

The material differences begin before the sheet is formed. Kozo, mitsumata, and ganpi all use bast fibers taken from bark, and makers choose among them according to the intended paper. Kozo has thick, strong fiber and is used where strength matters, including shoji paper, hosho paper, and mounting paper. Mitsumata is fine, flexible, and glossy, making it suited to printing, kana calligraphy hanshi, and art craft paper. Ganpi is fine, short, and glossy, with use in washi for art restoration.

The phrase “Inshu fude kirezu” turns a writing sensation into a compact name: the brush can write for a long time without rough damage to the tip, and the ink line avoids dry-looking breaks. Inshu still produces many calligraphy hanshi and gasenshi, so the paper is tied closely to brush movement, ink flow, and repeated practice at a writing desk.

Inshu washi also moves beyond the writing desk. The product range includes calligraphy hanshi, gasenshi, craft paper, and dyed paper, and newer forms use washi’s qualities in lampshades and printer paper. Postcards and bookmarks bring the smaller sheet into daily handling, placing the texture of Aoya and Saji fibers beside letters, books, and room light.

Saji and Aoya give visitors places to meet hand-suki paper directly. At the Saji-cho Fukuzono facility, children through older visitors can try papermaking, and the sheet they make can be taken home. In Aoya-cho Yamane, Aoya Washi Studio combines hand-suki experiences with exhibitions around washi and light, along with rotating displays. Another Aoya-cho Yamane facility stores and displays about 2,000 paper-related items and about 1,900 books, placing paper from many places beside Tottori’s own washi.