Handmade Japanese paper is profoundly rooted in the Japanese ethos and has played a significant part in Japan's cultural development.

Tosa Province, which is now Kochi Prefecture, is referred to as "Tosa, the Kingdom of Paper". Kochi Prefecture today remains Japan's main producing headquarters of handmade paper. "Tosa Washi," handmade paper of Kochi is  strong but soft, durable and renowned for it's great variety of top quality paper.

In Kochi papermaking goes far back in history.  Tsurayuki Kino, the author of  Tosa Diary (orTosa Nikkiwho),  was sent to Tosa as a governement official in 930AD. in the bid to promote papermaking, help to encourage the cultural development of the province.

At the turn of  the 16th century, "Tosa Nanairogami," a set of 7 sheets of paper in varying colours, was created. With the backing of the "daimyos" (or feudal lords), during the Edo period, papermaking rose to become one of the central industries of Tosa.

Later, Genta Yoshii (1826-1908) invented "Tengujo-shi," the thinnest type of paper in the world. In addition  he also contributed to the improvement of papermaking tools. Genta is given credit for laying the cornerstorne for the modern day Japanese paper industry.

The  Japanese government, some few years ago, passed a law to promote, develop and protect the traditional Japanese arts and crafts. According to this law, Tosa Washi was named as an honoured Japanese craft in 1976, and "Tengujo-shi" and "Tosa Seicho-shi" were included in this nomination as cultural assets.

Materials

Gampi,Kozo , and Mitshumata, plants are normally used.

Boiling

Materials are boiled in alkali solutions which includes slaked lime and soda ash for a period of 2-4 hours, making it possible to remove impurities.

Washing and Bleaching

The boiled materials are then thoroughly washed in a clear running water. Following this sunlight or powder is used to bleach and decolourize them.

Particle  removal

Dust and remainders of blackened bark are dispatched from the material individually by:

• mizuyori(with water) and karayori(no water) .  Fibers are beaten with an oak stick.   (This  process has been replaced by machines)
•  Material fibres are teased out by a beater and then evenly placed in water. Papermaking material fibres are added into a tank and stirred  with a stick.
• Mucilage taken from roots of Tororo-aoi, a plant of hibiscus type, is added into the tank.
• Following this,  sheets are made with a suketa (or a papermaking mold.)
•  In the dehydration stage  piled sheets of paper are dehydrated by means of a compressor .
• In the drying phase, sheets of paper are dried either by sunlight or alternatively in drying machines . If by sunlight, wet paper is laid out on a wooden board and dried by sunlight. If by machine, wet paper is placed on a dryer made up of a metal plate which is heated by vapor.
• In the cutting phase dried sheets of paper are piled individually by hand and then cut into the required size.