In the north of Kyoto prefecture, there is a silent valley village, named Kurotani. 800 years ago, Heike clan lost the war against Genji clan. The fugitive warriors hid in this valley, then started Washi making quietly. Their paper awarded fame as strong paper among the big demand for Kyoto.
In 1996, they established a cooperative association to maintain the history and technique and are tackling nurturing successors.
Recently, the valley got big damage by Typhoon, but they are powerfully revived by villager's big effort.