History of Tengujō Paper
The place of origin of Tengujō Washi paper was Kochi Prefecture, said to be the birthplace of paper in Japan. In the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573), this paper was already being made, and in the Edo period (1603 to 1867), it had various uses such as sketches for woodblock prints, tracing paper, and also in mounting and backing.
Over time, these thin papers became larger and of better quality. In 1880, the experimental forming of large-size Tengujō Washi was successfully made. In the following year, Tengujō Washi, with a thickness of 0.03 millimeters, entered into the national market. It was recognized as thin, suitable for writing with ink, and durable enough for typewriting.
In this way, Tengujō Washi was first used as typewriter paper, but was also used for napkins, wrapping paper for precious stones, coffee filters, and lens cleaning paper. Tengujō Washi started being exported and became known as an ultimately thin paper worldwide.
However, after World War Ⅱ, the decrease of typewriter usage and the invention of machine-made paper led to a decrease in the number of craftsmen.
Recently, however, attention has been paid to the fact that Japanese historical documents and paintings have preserved much longer at higher levels than anything else in other countries. Tengujō Washi has become internationally recognized as the finest paper for restoration of cultural properties. As a result, world-renown cultural properties such as Michelangelo’s wall paintings in the Vatican and works preserved in the Louvre in Paris began to use Tengujō Washi paper for restoration purposes.
Today the production of Tengujō Washi paper is stable for large production. The world’s thinnest and strongest paper developed by the dexterous techniques and aesthetic sensibilities of Japanese people has received acclaim over the last hundred years, and it’s continuing even now.
Production of Tengujō Washi Paper
Step 1: Boiling Kozo Plant Fibers
After the kozo plants are naturally dried, the first step in producing Tengujō Washi paper is boiling them in a large tank. Using clean, natural water from the region, the fibers are gently cooked to remove pectin and lignin. This process purifies and softens the fibers, preparing them for use as the raw material in papermaking.
Step 2: Washing to Remove Impurities
The fibers are then carefully washed to remove every single mote. This is one of the most important stages in the entire process, as any remaining impurities will not whiten—even if bleached—and will appear in the finished paper. To ensure complete purity, the fibers pass through five washing stations, each tended by a different craftsman, meticulously removing even the smallest imperfections.
Step 3: Bleaching Kozo Fibers
At this stage, the material is a reddish-brown color and must be bleached to achieve its characteristic whiteness. While chlorine is commonly used for bleaching, chlorine-treated paper can yellow over time. To preserve the paper’s natural clarity and long-term stability, we use our own chlorine-free bleaching method, ensuring the color remains unchanged.
Step 4: Mixing the Fiber and Water Ratio
The fibers are carefully mixed to ensure they are evenly dispersed throughout the water solution. The ratio of plant fiber to water is approximately 1:5, allowing the material to remain suspended rather than sink. At this stage, neri—a natural formation aid used to increase viscosity—is added, helping bind the fibers together and giving the mixture the body needed for papermaking.
Step 5: Specialized Machines Make Tengujō Paper
The prepared slurry then flows into the papermaking machine, which replicates the traditional hand-rocking technique once used to evenly intertwine the plant fibers. As the sheet forms, careful observation and precise adjustments are essential to control the thickness, size, and fiber distribution, ensuring consistency and the highest quality in the finished paper.
Step 6: Rolling Finished Tengujō Paper
The delicate, ultra-thin fibers are then formed and rolled into sheets, becoming the finished paper product. Composed primarily of cellulose, kozo fibers are highly absorbent and sensitive to handling. To preserve their strength and integrity, the sheets are carefully dried at a low temperature over the course of a week.