Apple pulp used to make wrapping paper

BY MUTSUMI MITOBE STAFF WRITER

2011/10/14

Masami Narita shows the washi paper made from apple dregs. (Mutsumi Mitobe)The apple washi paper is used to wrap glass cups shaped like apples. (Mutsumi Mitobe)

AOMORI -- An eco-friendly wrapping paper used for Aomori Prefectures souvenirs is being made from a juicy and crunchy product people usually associate with this northern prefecture--apples.

Masami Narita has spent the past year coming up with the right formula of apple dregs, pulp and kozo fiber that is the raw material for ordinary washi, or handmade Japanese paper.

Until two years ago, Narita, 34, worked as an engineer, and her problem-solving skills obviously helped when she found a job with Gainz Co. in Aomori, an information services company.

In the spring of 2010, the company president said to Narita, "I want to start a new project taking advantage of local resources in Aomori."

When she worked as an engineer, Narita designed copy machines. She always enjoyed creating something from nothing, including doing the research before the work actually begins.

After doing research on the Internet and meeting with officials in government offices and the industry and technology center, Narita learned that hundreds of tons of apple dregs were disposed of every year after juice and other products were made. Disposing of the dregs costs several tens of millions of yen.

Because the main ingredient in the dregs was the cellulose that is also one of the raw materials for paper, Narita said she thought that finding an effective use for the dregs would help apple farmers.

That idea started her along on days of experimenting with various mixtures of materials. When she tried to make paper using only apple dregs, the product was so brittle it could not be used.

Narita gradually changed the mixture of apple dregs, pulp and kozo fiber and tried making paper at the company office.

She finally came up with a completed prototype after about two months. She then had to find a washi craftsman to commercialize the product. However, there were none in Aomori Prefecture, so Narita visited major washi production centers, such as Kochi, Kyoto and Fukui, to seek a partner in the venture.

This spring, about 100 sheets of washi paper, each measuring 60 centimeters by 90 centimeters, arrived from a craftsman in Fukui who agreed to cooperate.

Even with the apple skin, core and seeds giving a feel of the fruit to the paper, light passed evenly through it. Narita felt then that a true professional's skills had gone into the washi.

Once the product was completed, Narita received various requests to use the paper, including as wrapping paper for such Aomori products as apple soap and glass cups shaped like apples.

Narita talked up her product to various creators in Aomori and elsewhere in search of other uses for the paper.

The product came about because of ties among people who originally worked in different fields, such as apple farmers, washi craftsmen and creators.

This year, Narita has been busy creating a structure that would allow for increased production as well as expanding sales routes. One part of such efforts was a workshop on handmade washi that was held in Aomori Prefecture.

Aomori has an abundance of clean water and outstanding examples of art such as the Nebuta festival and block prints.

With such a background, Narita said, "I eventually want to produce the paper in Aomori. It would be so interesting if one day we could create Nebuta floats using our washi."