One of Echizen Washi’s characteristics is the ability to make washi  to
suit the times flexibly. The highly skilled papermakers have created
many techniques.

Sukikake

 "Uchigumo" is the origin of this technique.
 This is a technique of pouring or drawing a paper material called "Hana" onto the base paper made beforehand.
 "Hana" is made of a variety of materials, including kozo, mitsumata, rayon, and gold and silver leaf.

Uchigumo, Tairei

Sukiire

 There are two ways of making paper: mixing "Hana" into the paper materials and placing it on the base paper by hand.
 The material of "Hana" is the same as for the "Sukikake", but flowers and plants are often used when placed on paper.

Rakusui / Mizukiri

 This is a technique for drawing a pattern to wet paper using water pressure.
 The origin is "Mizutama"-meaning Polka dots,invented in the middle Edo period.
It is modernized, "Rakusui" and "Tenjou-shi" are used to drop water finely like a rain using a watering can or a pipe with a hole.
 Many patterns have been devised, such as "Kujaku" with a spiral pattern and "Sudare"with a linear pattern.
 It is used also place a pattern made of wire, metal plate,to draw a design.

Rakushui, Tenjou-shi, Kujaku, Sudare

Sukikomi / Sukidashi

 Stencil paper with an engraved pattern is affixed to a bamboo mat or gauze mat and paper is made. Then, the paper is superimposed on the base paper to make the pattern emerge.
 It was perfected in the Edo period in Echizen.
 Recently, complex patterns are made by photoengraving directly on mat without using stencil paper.

Sukashiire

 This is a technique to put watermark on the paper by attaching stencils of characters and patterns to the bamboo or gauze and making paper.
 The paper becomes thinner in the area where the patterned paper was, and the characters and patterns emerge in white when held up to the light.
 It is useful for preventing forgery, so it is often used for certificates.

Certificates, Stock certificates, Diplomas

Otoshikake

 This is a technique to make a pattern by dropping separately dyed paper materials onto wet paper.
 The paper "Tobigumo" was made by dropping paper material and drawing clouds with ladle.
 The paper "Hiryu" was invented in modern times. This paper is made by pouring the paper material mixed "neri" into a container such as an oil pitcher, squeezing it out and drawing patterns.

Tobikumo, Hiryu

Nagashikomi

 This is a technique to make a pattern by pouring dyed paper materials into a metal mold with a pattern on it.
 There are two ways to use the formwork, on the base paper, or on a bamboo mat or gauze mat. If the mold is placed on the mat or gauze, the created paper is overlaid on the base paper.
 Paper material may be poured over all or part of the base paper.

Hikkake

This is a technique in which fibers are hanged on a thin metal mold of the pattern, transferred to bamboo mat and then layered on ground paper.
The fibers are not entangled randomly and are aligned along the sharp sides of the metal plate, giving the contour lines a glossy appearance.

Suminagashi

 Add ink and rosin alternately on the water, it will spread concentrically.
 Next, blow the breath or blow the wind with a fan to make a pattern.
 Finally, gently place washi and transfer the pattern.