Nao paper has been made fir over 300 years at Nao area in Yamato-machi, Saga Pref. Yoshisuke Noudomi, who studied paper making in Chikugo district (present Fukuoka Pref.), introduced the technique to this area in around 1700. As this area is located in the mountains between Saga Plain and the Genkainada Sea and has very scarce farmland, paper making developed as a side job for the farmers. At present only one workshop of Taniguch Washi Kobo remains. The characteristic of Nao paper is that kaji (a kind mulberry) is used instead of kozo (paper mulberry). Kaji belongs to the same class as camellia in the botanical classification and has durable long fiber. Its elaborate surface, hard touch, and transparency can’t be found in any other paper. It is favored to make a variety of items such as chochin (lanterns), wall paper, calligraphy paper, and the lanterns specially made for the Grand Sumo tournaments held in Kyushu and Hakata Dontaku Festival.