Hoshoshi or Hoshogami is a luxury paper that was used for official documents especially during the Edo period (1603-1868); it was originally manufactured only at Echizen (Fukui Prefecture), and is now produced in other regions. It is used especially for prints, book printing. Traditionally to get a glossy appearance, the bark was put to freeze the night before cooking; cooking was performed in a ash lye of blue taro stems. For most ordinary qualities, buckwheat straw and sagebrush were used). Hosho paper from Echizen is one of the most famous of the Edo period.