Nepalese Washi

Nepalese washi is paper made using the Japanese technique of nagashizuki. These papers are made in Bansbari, outside Katmandu, at the paper factory of Milan Dev Bhattarai. The papers are made by diffusion of lokta and mitsumata, a well known plant of Japan. These exotic papers are hand made, textured and deckle edged. It has a smooth surface on one side and a grainy surface on the other side.

In the '70s, a group of Japanese papermakers visited the Himalayas. They were impressed by the plants growing on the lower slopes and they found that those plants were quite similar to the plants growing in the traditional papermaking areas of Japan. Then a program was sponsored by the Japanese government to implement the idea and task of paper making in the northern mountain villages. This resulted in 'Washi'-style papers of consistent quality. This paper was called Nepalese Washi.

Making of Nepalese Washi Paper

• Mix the fiber in the vat with water and mucilage to make pulp viscous.
• Dip the mould into the vat.
• The mould, also called su-keta consists of a fine split bamboo screen on top of a ribbed wooden frame.
• Lift the sheets and place onto a pile.
• The pile of papers is pressed by screw press.
• The sheets are separated and dried on metal sheets.
• The resulting paper is a beautiful Nepalese Washi.

Application of Nepalese Washi Paper

• Used for printmaking and drawing in ink.
• Used for bookbinding and calligraphy.
• Used in inkjet and laser printers.
• Washi Handmade paper is widely used for watercolors.