18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Mobile
Traditional Japanese paper hanging out to dry

A washi factory in Iyo-Saijo, Japan, still makes rippled paper traditionally reserved for the emperor. They dry it using a technique called "tamagake," each sheet held against a wooden frame by a marble. Push the marble up, and the paper is released.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Iyo-Saijo, Ehime, Japan
Camera: Pixel 2
Copyright: © Laura Katz