Au Papier japonais offers more than 800 different kinds of Japanese papers, as well as many products made from paper such as notebooks, journals, and greeting cards. A wide range of creative opportunities is available through our course program.
What is Washi?
Handmade Japanese papers are called washi, and this word has gradually replaced the more common but inaccurate term, “rice paper” which whenever said by an unsuspecting client usually provokes a lengthy explanation! And that’s because, the remarkable qualities of washi come not from rice, but from “kozo” — the mulberry fibres that are the heart of and soul of washi. It is kozo that give washi its diversity of texture, finish and colour, its delicacy and transluscence, but exceptional strength and responsiveness to impression, and its low acidity which insures a lasting image.
