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Awagami Factory

Japanese Washi Paper Crafting Kit

Japanese Washi Paper Crafting Kit

$99.00 USD
$99.00 USD
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Awagami Factory invites you into the poetic world of traditional papermaking with this complete washi crafting kit. Rooted in Tokushima’s centuries-old legacy, the set includes all the essentials—delicate pre-formed pulp sheets, a postcard-sized su (papermaking frame), and binding agent—elegantly packaged and ready for your first sheet.

From the texture of each fiber to the subtle variations shaped by your own hands, this quiet craft offers more than just paper—it offers a moment of stillness and reflection. Whether you create for art, correspondence, or memory, this kit bridges timeless Japanese technique with your personal imprint.

A meaningful introduction to washi for both the curious beginner and the seasoned hand.

Detail

10 Dry Pulp Sheets
1 postcard-size papermaking frame
2.5g bonding agent
Instructions (English and Japanese)

Care ＆ Use

  • This kit includes dry kozo pulp—ideal for long-term storage compared to traditional wet pulp. The fibers have been separated and sheet-formed using a traditional tamesuki technique.
  • To use, soak the pulp in water for several seconds and gently tear it by hand. For easier tearing, immerse it in warm water for several minutes beforehand. You may further break it down using a blender or by shaking it inside a bottle.
  • If the pulp is difficult to disperse in water or has dense clumps, we recommend either boiling it for 20–30 minutes or soaking it in an alkaline solution (approximately 5% soda ash to dry pulp weight). Afterwards, drain and lightly loosen the fibers with a wooden stick or similar tool.
  • A video tutorial showing how to dissolve the pulp and form sheets is available here: Watch on YouTube
  • Note: Due to the nature of handmade processing, there may be slight weight variations between individual sheets. Each bundle (10 pieces) is packaged to total approximately 100g. One bundle (approx. 10g × 10) yields over 20 postcard-sized sheets.
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The legacy of Awa Washi: spirit woven into paper

Among Japan’s oldest and most poetic crafts is washi—paper not merely made, but cultivated. Awa Washi, hailing from Tokushima Prefecture, stands as one of its most storied expressions. With origins in the 8th century, this paper tradition thrived in a region blessed with pure mountain water and temperate humidity—ideal for coaxing strength and subtlety from natural fibers. Unlike Western paper, Awa Washi is crafted from the inner bark of plants like kozo (mulberry), painstakingly steamed, stripped, beaten, and lifted into sheets by hand. What emerges is not just paper, but a living surface: strong yet breathable, soft yet unyielding, textured with time.

Awa Washi rose to prominence during the Edo period, cherished by feudal lords and literati alike for its ability to hold ink with grace and resist wear through generations. It was paper meant not to be used, but to be kept—to carry memory, prayer, and promise. Today, it endures as a rare material that balances imperfection and precision, woven not by machine but by human rhythm, plant fiber, and river flow. Each sheet invites a slower gaze, reminding us of the beauty in process, patience, and permanence

Brand History

Awagami Factory is a family-run papermaking atelier in Tokushima, rooted in over 300 years of washi tradition. Operated by the Fujimori family, the workshop traces its origins to the Edo period, when ancestors began crafting Awa Washi using the region’s abundant clean water and local plant fibers. Officially established in its current form in 1945, Awagami Factory has since become one of the few remaining makers dedicated to preserving the depth and discipline of hand-papermaking in Japan.

What sets Awagami apart is its rare duality: it honors centuries-old techniques while actively pushing the boundaries of what handmade paper can be. Under the guidance of successive generations—including Minoru Fujimori, a designated Master Craftsman—the factory has cultivated a wide range of papers for contemporary use, from printmaking and fine art to interior design and everyday creative expression.

Each sheet is made with a devotion to integrity—no shortcuts, no synthetic pulp. Whether created from kozo, mitsumata, or gampi, every fiber is selected, processed, and lifted into form with care that borders on reverence. Their ethos is not mass production, but cultural stewardship: to keep Awa Washi alive not in a museum, but in the hands of those who will write, fold, dye, or create with it.