In the mid-Edo period, Mikawa (present-day Fukuoka-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture) became not only a gathering place for artisans of crafts such as lacquerware, foil stamping, and metal fittings, but also a producer of Mikawa cotton, which is essential for the manufacture of hand-dyed banners. Thanks to local artisans’ knowledge of dyeing techniques, as well as access to nearby streams that could be used to wash glue from dyed fabrics, the town became a major producer of warrior banners dyed using the hand-painted “honzome" method, characterized by traditional colors and shading. Many of the banner designs featured heroes from the Warring States period or were suitable for praying for the safe growth and success of boys.