Washi is traditional Japanese paper made by hand from the inner bark fibres of three plants: the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub and the paper mulberry, known as kozo. It has been used for origami, calligraphy, ukiyo-e woodblock prints and everyday goods such as clothing, toys and ritual objects for Shinto priests. Its long fibres make it tougher than Western paper made from wood pulp. Because it is thin, pliable and very low in impurities, it can last over 1,000 years and can be removed cleanly with moisture. This makes it a preferred material for repairing valuable paintings and books in museums such as the Louvre and the Vatican Museums. Washi is registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.