Besides Uda-Gami, the Fukunishi family also makes other seasonal papers that are dyed by plants. One of the most popular of these types of papers is the Sakura-dyed paper. The sakura (cherry blossoms) that bloom on Yoshino Mountain are famous, and these deep pink, sakura-colored papers are often requested by shod artists (traditional calligraphers), woodblock printers and even designers of sake labels. We also use the sakura-dye technique in elementary school graduation certificates.
People often ask us, “Do you dye this paper with the petals of the sakura tree?” But actually, we are not using sakura petals. Just before springtime, we cut off branches from a sakura tree just before they blossom, remove their bark, slice them into fine strips, cook them and then soak the fibers in the sakura liquid to dye it—this is what gives the paper its sakura, pinkish hue.
