Mitsumata: A dignified appearance even in bud

Mitsumata

A deciduous shrub of the Thymelaeaceae family, genus Edgeworthia

Last year, new banknotes were released and were a major topic of conversation, and it is this plant, the Mitsumata, that was transformed into those banknotes.

There are many excellent points about this plant as a material for paper, which is the reason it is used for banknotes.

Breaking these down into detail, it is used for banknotes due to six advantages: flexibility, luster, fibrous quality, durability, water absorbency, and ease of processing.

Flexibility: Mitsumata fibers are extremely flexible and supple. This characteristic gives Japanese paper (washi) a smooth texture and allows it to withstand folding and friction. Luster: The fibers have a natural luster, allowing for the creation of paper with a beautiful finish. This luster is one of the factors that creates the high-quality feel of washi, giving it an appearance suitable for valuable banknotes.

Fibrous quality: The fibers of the Mitsumata are shorter than those of other raw materials for washi, such as Kozo (paper mulberry). Because of this, the texture when made into paper is smooth, and it is suitable for printing fine characters.

Durability: Mitsumata fibers have excellent durability and are resistant to aging. For this reason, washi made with Mitsumata has high preservation properties and has been used for ancient documents, official documents, banknotes, and traditional paper umbrellas.

Water absorbency: The fibers have the ability to absorb and retain water well. Due to this characteristic, washi easily absorbs ink and dyes, resulting in a finish with little bleeding.

Processability: Because Mitsumata fibers are soft, they are easy to process and suitable for crafting and decoration. For this reason, it is also used for arts and crafts and decorative washi. Due to the six characteristics above, Mitsumata fiber is an indispensable material for traditional Japanese washi making and has been used for special-purpose paper (such as securities paper, printmaking paper, and banknotes) and high-quality washi. Washi made primarily from Mitsumata is widely recognized for its quality as part of 'Japanese hand-made washi techniques,' which has been registered as a World Heritage site. Incidentally, because a large amount of Mitsumata was used for Japan's new banknotes, it is not domestically produced in Japan, but rather imported from Nepal.

Japanese name: Mitsumata (Three-forked), Musubigi (Tying tree) English name: Paper Bush Scientific name: Edgeworthia chrysantha Classification: Malvales, Thymelaeaceae, Edgeworthia genus Type: Deciduous shrub Plant height: 70-200 cm Flowering: March-April Flower color: Yellow Flower diameter: 5 mm Petals: None Sepals: 4-lobed tubular calyx Inflorescence: Globose inflorescence Origin: Japan, Southwest China, Nepal Language of flowers: Toughness, robustness Photography: Raikoji Temple (Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture) ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ #Mitsumata #Threeforked #Musubigi #PaperBush #PAPERBUSH #Edgeworthia #EDGEWORTHIACHRYSANTHA #RaikojiTemple #BankofJapanNote ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

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Three types of Bank of Japan notes newly issued on July 3, 2024

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