PAPER INDUSTRY, 413 



and the woof of paper threads. The paper used in its manufacture, 

 called Shi-fu-gami in Shiroishi, is made of Broussonetia fibre in 

 several places in the province of Iwaki. One Jo of it, or a quire 

 consisting of 50 sheets, the size of our common writing paper, costs 

 25 sen, or one shilling. 



Half a Jo of this paper is often folded lengthwise, and laid to- 

 gether so that the two parallel edges are over one another and 

 project 3 or 4 centimeters over the edges. The paper is laid length- 

 wise over the one narrow side of a thick board provided with feet 

 for firmness, and fastened at both ends with iron bent clamps, so 

 that the two projecting edges of the paper form a right-angle with 

 the principal part of the sheets, and hang down. Then the folded 

 part of the paper parallel to the width of the sheet is cut with a 

 broad, hatchet-like, very sharp knife into narrow strips of scarcely 

 2 millimeters' breadth, which bang together by the projecting edge 

 which has not been touched by the knife. Now follows the rolling 

 of these strips of connected paper ribbons on a smooth stone slab, 

 with the flat of the hand, a work which is continued, with frequent 

 twisting, till every ribbon has become a slack thread. The connect- 

 ing edges are then cut on both sides so far through that the single 

 threads hang together by a width of only two millimeters broad, 

 and then the connecting places are twisted also. In this way con- 

 tinuous threads are obtained. The finished fabric made from such 

 entwined paper threads for woof and silk warp, is called Fukusa-ji, 

 i.e. " ground for Fukusa." Fukusa otherwise denotes the silk covers 

 for fine presents, such as lacquer-ware and the like, but here 

 quadrangular pieces which are printed with flowers or landscapes, 

 and serve for covering presents, 



In making Shi-fu fabric for clothing, the paper threads are 

 twisted beforehand, right and left, similarly to those of the silk 

 woof for Chirimen or crape-silk, and run in the fabric alternately 

 once in and out, i.e, two right-twisted woof-threads follow two left- 

 twisted threads, and so on. When the Shi-fu fabric is finished it is 

 placed in boiling lye made of straw ashes, then washed, dried, and 

 stretched. It acquires in this process a twilled appearance, and is 

 considerably shrunken. It is now given to the dyer before being 

 worked up, and is printed in various patterns. 



This peculiar branch of industry which I have described was 

 introduced in Shiroishi 90 or 100 years ago, and was carried on 

 by Samurai families. It is said to have been at its height 50 years 

 ago, when the Shi-fu material, which can also be washed, was very 

 popular for women's summer clothing. Later, when, in consequence 

 of the commercial treaties, the incomparably finer and more durable 

 English cotton fabrics were brought in such quantity and at such 

 low prices into the country, this industry declined rapidly, so that 

 twelve years ago it was carried on in six or eight houses only. 



