Government, paper makers welcome addition of ‘washi’ to UNESCO list

“Washi,” the traditional handmade paper, was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Wednesday in a move that was expected to help Japan boost global awareness of its traditional culture and spur interest among younger generations in keeping artisan skills alive.

The registered products are Hosokawashi from Saitama Prefecture, Honminoshi from Gifu Prefecture and Sekishubanshi from Shimane Prefecture, where craftspeople continue to use traditional techniques to make paper by hand, using only mulberry fiber.

“Washi paper is used not only for letter writing and books, but also in home interiors to make paper screens, room dividers and sliding doors,” UNESCO noted at its intergovernmental committee meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

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