Rice paper has many traditional uses in Japan.
Paper-making and paper crafts have been elevated to art forms in Japan. The list of traditional papers that are still made today is extensive, and many are available internationally. Japanese crafts made from paper are many, and craftspeople still use it for shoji screens, lamps, books and shodo, or traditional Japanese watercolor paintings. During the Meiji period, even Japanese money was printed on traditional paper. Edible papers, however, are not a Japanese tradition.
History
Paper-making originated in China in the first century AD. It was brought to Japan in 610 AD by Buddhist monks who produced paper so that they could write sutras, or doctrinal summaries. The Japanese quickly excelled at the craft. In the late 1800s, more than 100,000 Japanese families made paper by hand, but because of the introduction of mechanized paper-making technologies from the Western world, this number quickly dwindled.
Misconceptions
The Japanese have never been known for making edible rice paper. In fact, even the term rice paper is a misnomer because Japanese paper, or washi, is made from a variety of products. If it is crafted from rice at all, it is made from the stalk and husk of the plant, not from the kernel. Edible rice paper made from a flour ground from rice kernels and sometimes mixed with tapioca powder is a product of Southeast Asia and China. It is used to roll vegetables into spring rolls and other dishes.
Types
The three most common ingredients of washi are kozo, or paper mulberry, misumata, an indigenous Japanese plant grown as a crop, and gampi, a rich and long-lasting fiber. Paper-makers often blend in other ingredients, such as hemp, rayon, horsehair or metal foil to texturize or decorate the paper. What was commonly know as rice paper in Europe in the early 1900s came from Taiwan. It was not made from rice either, but made from the pith of a small ornamental tree with broad leaves called Tetrapanax papyrifer.
Features
Despite its light and airy appearance, washi is deceptively strong and durable. Pure spun washi can be sewn and was used to line kimonos and even armor in the past. When used on shoji, it provides enough insulation to keep a room warm in the winter. It weighs less than paper made from wood fiber, and it is flexible and translucent. Paper made from rice and tapioca flour lacks these qualities, but it is more appealing to the taste buds.
Benefits
While washi is prized for its aesthetic appeal and durability, edible rice paper is sought after for its texture and taste. Both are light and flexible and are major export items for the countries that produce them. Anyone who has a supply of the proper ingredients can easily make edible rice paper--there are many recipes available online. While it takes more effort to make washi properly, it is certainly within the purview of the home crafts enthusiast, especially if the raw materials are available. If they aren't, you can always use stalks of rice.
