The history of the paper industry extends back to around 1750, when washi was first produced in the Uma area. The area does not have much flat land, and is ill-suited to rice farming, but as water and the proper kind of wood are plentiful, it is ideal for paper manufacturing. The modern paper industry began to flourish when mechanized manufacturing techniques were developed in the Meiji era. After World War II, the paper industry contributed to the city's rapid economic growth.