hanshi 半紙

Also written 判紙. A small-sized paper, approximately 25 cm by 35 cm. Being a convenient size for a variety of documents, hanshi has been used since the late Muromachi period, and reached its peak in popularity during the Edo period. Traditionally made from mulberry paper *choshi 楮紙, today hanshi is made from various fibers in different thicknesses. Counters used for hanshi are: 20 sheets equal one *jō 帖, 10 jō equal one taba 束, 10 taba equal one shime 締, and 6 shime equal one maru 丸.