This year is the 10 th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and, now being an old man, I am filled with deep emotion as I look back upon the past only to see how swift time flies.
In those days when the Association was to be established, it was feared that a technical association of this kind might go on successfully, and moreover our pulp and paper industry was then in its darkest days and I should say it was no easy job to the promotors.
Especially we must note the kind assistance and advice given then by Mr. Harold R. Murdock of G.H.Q.who suggested us to establish our association modeling after the TAPPI of U.S.A.
I offer my hearty congratulations on the development which our pulp and paper industry has accomplished, and it is for mutual congratulation that this development owes very much to the philomathy of the follow-members of the association.
In the Orient, from olden times we have been manufacturing many kinds of strong papers, using Kozo, Mitsumata and other bast-fibres. When compared with these bast-fibres, even kraft pulp, …which is believed to be the strongest material for paper-making today?c is too weak. I should say we must reconsider this point.
It is believed that the strength of paper is a question of the affinity between fibres and water. We already know that in order to increase the affinity, the beating of fibre is generally most important, but besides that we should also pay attention to what kind of paper we wish to make, because the strength required may vary according to the purpose of the paper we manufacture. And this would be the secret of paper