Paper mulberry, Inshū washi paper, Aoya district

Year after year the historical production of Inshu washi increased. Around 1600 the feudal lord Kamei Korenori (1557-1612), who ruled the Shikano area, enacted edicts to protect the sources of pulp for papermaking of the mulberry and gampi tress. Lord Kamei noted in his writings that these "trees must not be cut or felled." During the Edo period (1615-1868), paper was a popular commodity for feudal clans and common folk, and its production like that of Inshu washi was a protected trade overseen by the kamiza (paper trade guild).