Pulp preparation: beating process, Inshū washi paper, Saji district

Fibers from paperbush, mulberry, and gampi are carefully processed to minimize damage to the pulp making it optimal for washi papermaking. Beating and hitting machines are used to process the fibers to refine them. Once the pulp is adequately processed, the fibers will interweave with one another when the water is remove to reinforce and strengthen the paper.