Washi: the Japanese Paper Crafted to Last 1000 Years [video]
Posted3 months agoActive3 months ago
bbc.comOtherstory
calmpositive
Debate
20/100
Japanese CulturePaper CraftsmanshipArt Conservation
Key topics
Japanese Culture
Paper Craftsmanship
Art Conservation
The BBC video showcases the traditional Japanese art of washi paper-making, which is crafted to last 1000 years, and sparks a discussion on its various uses and cultural significance.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
Discussion Activity
Active discussionFirst comment
3d
Peak period
11
78-84h
Avg / period
7.3
Comment distribution29 data points
Loading chart...
Based on 29 loaded comments
Key moments
- 01Story posted
Sep 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM EDT
3 months ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Sep 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM EDT
3d after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
11 comments in 78-84h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03 - 04Latest activity
Oct 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM EDT
3 months ago
Step 04
Generating AI Summary...
Analyzing up to 500 comments to identify key contributors and discussion patterns
ID: 45399589Type: storyLast synced: 11/20/2025, 5:42:25 PM
Want the full context?
Jump to the original sources
Read the primary article or dive into the live Hacker News thread when you're ready.
I don’t know about more affordable options though
Maybe it's their T-Shirt Dream Car :)
They have a very interesting approach to alot of fabrics, eschewing traditional western, static cuts and instead base the pattern on the bodies movement ('anatomical cuts'). https://www.reversible.com/user/tpat/listings/devoa-8-pocket...
T-Shirt is £120 and they ship to US and Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUpLl7BZ_JY
Masking tape would bleed or lift paint. (Even frog tape). 10x reduction in these problems since switching to washi.
More importantly, this video is too short. It doesn't talk about why this paper can last a thousand years other than saying that it has.
Also I think the UK host gets short shrift. I really want to know his story. That on its own would be super interesting.
In case anyone is wondering, it’s because it’s a more complex process that removes a lot of the impurities that degrade plant fibers like acids. The fibers are also significantly longer, get damaged less during the process compared to machine made, and don’t have lignin which tends to degrade the fibers in wood based paper.
That 1000 year number depends on controlled environmental conditions or getting left in a desert. You leave some washi paper in a rainforest and it won’t last much longer than other plant fibers.
BTW the reporter looks like Cotten Hill if he was real, and actually fought in all those wars. I'm quite surprised they had him hosting the video. I'm curious what decisions led to this.
I hope positively surprised :) That's Paul Carter - he's a regular presenter on the BBC, particularly their tech show "BBC Click". Here's a nice interview (https://disabilityhorizons.com/2019/09/paul-carter-journalis...) he gave to Disability Horizons a few years ago about his experiences.
I don't think this is just due to lack of good paper making techniques, it's also an aspect of physical security that's involved.
Could it be his his degree in journalism and his years of experience as a journalist?