Understanding Different Weights of Japanese Washi / Paper

Selecting a Japanese paper can be confusing and the biggest source of that confusion is understanding weights.

Washi weights are expressed as GSM — the Metric Standard when comparing the weights of papers. You will see references such as 21g / 50g / etc.

3.7g — 9g is very lightweight tissue primarily used for conservation and repair / very transparent

10g — 25g is light weight, strong and translucent

25g — 45g is the average weight of many Japanese papers with some translucency and great strength

45g — 70g is more opaque with good body, and while the feel is very different, is the approximate weight of Western bond paper

There are not too many Japanese papers over 75g

To view a range of natural Japanese paper in various weights, click here. Most paper descriptions show a photo with a card below to give you a sense of the translucency of each paper. Japanese papers, even when thin, are very strong.

If you have questions about selecting the right Japanese paper for your project, please feel free to get in touch at info@washiarts.com