Since the late 18th century, Japan's Awagami Factory has been producing fine art papers characterized by their softness and strength. Their papers, including their signature Kitakata paper, are made from regional fibers from tree or shrub bark, including the Kozo tree.

Awagami Paper Paper making in Japan dates back more than 1300 years, when the Inbe-zoku (an influential clan), came to Awa to serve the Emperor. Known today as the Tokushima prefecture, the Inbe clan panted hemp and kozo seeds in Awa to grow the raw materials they needed to make paper and cloth. Since the late 1700s the art of Awa Washi, Japanese papermaking, has been kept alive by the Fujimori family. The business has become modernized while still making many of their papers by hand. In 1989 a non-profit museum was established. The Hall of Awa Japanese Handmade Paper was founded to give artists workspace to experiment with papers and to establish relationships with other artists worldwide.