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Production process 01: Manufacturing Handmade Gampi Wahi

1) After Gampi tree fibers are boiled and placed in cold water, any impurities in the fibers are picked out carefully by hand. This work is quite time-consuming, but most important to bring out the translucency of Mizuuchiwa(Water Fan). The fibers are then made into pulp.

the fibers are picked out carefully by hand
Gampi tree fibers
Gampi tree fibers

2) Pulp solution is scooped onto a screen tray, and shaken to spread evenly to form a very thin layer. Just-made wet sheets are then stacked with "interleaving" thread placed in between, so that they can be separated easily later.

screen tray
to form a very thin layer
wet sheets
stacked with interleaving thread placed in between
stacked with interleaving thread placed in between
stacked with interleaving thread placed in between
stacked with interleaving thread placed in between

3) For separating, each sheet is rolled into a metal cylinder. It needs careful attention to stretch and strip each sheet, as it is extra-thin.

each sheet is rolled into a metal cylinder
each sheet is rolled into a metal cylinder

4) The sheet is then unrolled, and attached to a flat board with a brush.

attached to a flat board with a brush

5) Each sheet is dried under the sun in order to strengthen the fibers. On a sunny day, a drying ground is full of washi boards.

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