In Japan, ever since the Jomon and Yayoi periods, people have made thread from fiber derived from plants and trees that grow naturally in the mountains, including Japanese linden, mulberry, elm, wisteria, kudzu and ramie. Uetsu Shinafu textiles are an example of these threads used to weave fabric and make clothing and ornaments for personal use.
Thanks to developments in spinning technology during the Meiji era, cotton products became more common and many regions ceased producing these traditional textiles, but in this locale, they were still used for casual wear and farming wear. They were also commonly employed in fishing nets, filtering fabric, sheets and storage bags. Moving forward, the development of Japan's economy and the modernization of lifestyles resulted in a sudden drop in demand, and they barely remained in production for personal use. However, since the late Showa era (1970s-80s), there has been an increased use of traditional crafts for regional revitalization activities as well as heightened demand for rustic, simple crafts, resulting in a gradual revival of Uetsu Shinafu textile production.