Nao village is surrounded by mountains. There were only small spaces for rice making. To improve their economy, in 1690, Mr Noutomi Yusuke, who was the village leader, asked Buddhism monk Nichigen, who were making Washi in Chikugo, to teach for them Washi making.
The mountains around Nao was full of wild Kaji trees. The fibre of Kaji is longer than Kozo's. Their paper won the reputation as a very strong paper. The paper was used for the durability required purpose, such as umbrella, lantern, raincoat.
Nowadays, the Taniguchi family is continuously making various creative papers using the local Kaji.