How to Repair a Japanese Screen

Moisten a sponge with water and soak the edges of the washi that are glued to the frame. Give the water about 15 minutes to soften the glue, and then pull the washi off the frame. Wipe away the excess glue from the frame, using the sponge.

Lay the frame flat on the ground and tap one of the sides away from the top rail until it separates. Tap the other side in the same way and remove the top rail. Pull the sides apart just far enough to remove any broken lattice pieces. You don't need to disconnect the bottom rail unless it is damaged or you need to remove lattice pieces near the bottom. If you do need to remove it, do it in the same way that you removed the top rail.

Remove one undamaged lattice piece and use it as a template for making replacements for the broken ones. Rip the number of identical pieces you need on a table saw, using lumber that matches the existing material. If it is a traditional shoji, you will get a close match by using cedar.

Lay the template on top of one of the replacement pieces and mark the positions of the notches with a sharp pencil. Cut the sides of the notches with a Japanese pull saw, and then chisel out the bases with a 1/4-inch chisel.

Repair any gouges on the sides of the frame or the top and bottom rails with a hand plane. Traditional craftspeople don't use sandpaper. If you sand gouges, the sanding marks will make a disagreeable contrast with the rest of the frame.

Reassemble the lattice, then fit the frame around it, starting at the bottom and making sure the ends of all the lattice pieces fit in the notches on the frame. Tap the corners together with a wooden mallet.

Spread water-soluble mucilage around the outside of the frame and on the edges of all the lattice pieces on one side of the screen. Traditional glue is made from rice, but you can use any available product. Cut out a piece of washi that fits over the entire screen and lay it on the frame with the smooth side out. Don't move the washi once it makes contact with the glue, or it will have glue marks. Let the mucilage dry for one to two hours.

Trim the edges of the washi with a utility knife. Stand the screen against a wall and use a hand sprayer to spray the entire covering of washi with a fine mist of water. The paper should be soaked but not dripping. Let it dry. As it dries, the paper will shrink and tighten against the frame.