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This is a high-quality paper made specially for banknotes and securities by the Paper Making Department of the Printing Bureau, which was established in the Ministry of Finance in 1875 (Meiji 8). Among the traditional Japanese papers, they focused on Torinoko paper, which is made mainly from gampi (ganpi), and invited experts from Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) to succeed in producing a similar high-quality paper using mitsumata (mitsumata) instead. This is generally called "Tokushi." It was exported overseas for the first time in 1877, and became world-famous, called Japanese parchment or vegetable parchment.

[Machida Masayuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1875年（明治8）に大蔵省に設けられた印刷局抄紙部で、特別に紙幣や証券用に抄造された上質紙。古来の和紙のなかから、ガンピ（雁皮）を主原料とする鳥の子紙に着目し、越前(えちぜん)（福井県）から専門家を招いて、ミツマタ（三椏）を代用し同様の上質紙の製造に成功した。これを一般に局紙とよぶ。77年に海外へ初輸出され、日本羊皮紙あるいは植物性羊皮紙とよばれて世界的に有名になった。

［町田誠之］

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