Hydrangea paniculata, Miyama paper

Traditional Miyama papermaking that continues to be produced today typically adds panicled hydrangea as an adhesive to the water in the pulp tank for dispersing fibers　evenly. While sunset hibiscuses are cultivated for making the fiber-dispersing mixutre around Japan, panicled hydrangeas are cultivated instead in many regions of Yamagata prefecture. As panicled hydrangea is difficult to cultivate, papermakers harvest panicled hydrangeas that grow naturally in the mountains. For this reason, not many types of washi are made using panicled hydrangea. In this way, the inheritance of raw materials and tools in addition to the technique of papermaking is also vital.