Inshū Washi Paper- Saji District

Saji is located in the mountainous region of southeastern Tottori prefecture. The Saji-gawa river runs through the district. While agriculture is considered the main industry, smaller industries like washi production, sericulture, and forestry have also flourished. Although the history of Inshu washi in the area is incomplete, a historical document with the seal of Inaba province has been found the Soshoin repository dating from the Eighth century. Futhermore, the medieval record called the Engishiki (complied between 905 and 927) indicates that paper from the Inaba province was presented to the imperial court. These references suggest that the history of Ishu washi of the area is over 1200 years old. 

After World War II, the proliferation of office machines and rapid changes in lifestyle dealt a devastating blow to washi paper production and products such as thin office note paper and shoji (sliding door) paper. To counter this decline, Inshu washi production shifted its focus to specialty calligraphy, craft, and dyed papers, all of which have remained popular until today with washi aficionados and calligraphers.

The Saji Paper Ancestry Monument was erected to memorialize those craftsmen and artisans involved in the long history  of Inshu washi paper production in Saji. The Saji Paper Ancestry Monument Festival is held annually every November, and includes traditional Shinto rituals and ceremonies.

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.

Newly created paper contains a lot of water and it must be slowly dried overnight, after which it is then pressed on remove excess water. Once the excess water is removed, the paper is laid out with a brush over a heated stainless steel or iron plate to complete the drying process. 

Inshu washi made in Saji is produced using an optimal mix of fibers from mulberry, paperbush, gampi, straw, cogongrass, bamboo, and wood. The calligraphy paper is created to showcase the varied richness of the ink through techniques of shading, bleeding, and blending.