The Foundation of Creation: It All Begins with the Selection of Fine Japanese Paper

The making of Iyo Mizuhiki starts with choosing high-quality Japanese paper (Washi).

The final product’s strength, firmness, and beauty are mostly determined at this initial stage of material selection, making it a crucial process.

The washi generally used for Mizuhiki is made from mulberry (Kozo) fibers. Compared to other papermaking materials, Kōzo fibers stand out for their exceptional length, strength, and their ability to intertwine easily.

It is these long and resilient fibers that give finished Mizuhiki its surprising durability and tensile strength—qualities that go far beyond what one would expect from paper.

Because the paper must later be strongly twisted together under intense pressure, if the substrate is weak, it’s impossible to form the distinctive shape of Mizuhiki in the first place.

Every act of creation starts from a profound understanding of these essential materials and an uncompromising eye for quality selection.