Japanese Rice Glue(sokui) and Use

Japanese rice glue(sokui) is used all over japan for book binding and anything that uses paper. It can be used to stick paper to anything imaginable. Follow the steps to make an easy sokui.

For making sokui you need.

100gm rice

500ml water

Spatula or spoon

Utensil to cook

Take the rice and put into the an grinder. Grind for around 15 seconds or more as per the rice you are using. Grind it to a fine powder.

Add the rice powder and water into a heavy base utensil and mix well. Put it on flame when mixed thoroughly.

Start with a high flame and bring the flame down to low when the mix starts to bubble. Keep stirring the mix or the mix will stick to the bottom. You can add more water if required as per the texture of the final mush. Keep checking for lumps, press the mix with thumb and index figure. It should feel like glue. Finally the pulp should be the texture of thick porridge. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Preserve the freshly made glue in an airtight bottle. You can add some salt to increase the shelf life of the glue. You can add little water to change the texture of the sokui if required.

Advice: This measurement makes 2 huge bottles of glue. You can decrease the quantity to make smaller batch of sokui.

Note: Don't keep it in the refrigerator or it will not be usable any more.

Using the sokui is easy. This is a test of gluing paper to cardboard. You can apply the sokui with a thick brush or easier, with your figure to the application surface. The sokui takes little more time than pva glue to dry. Once dry gives the same effect.

Go ahead! Make some sokui.