Matoi Motif, Mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu), and silk threads (itoire), In Japan, firefighters would use a unit called a matoi to put out fires. Each firehouse would have a unique matoi. This stencil represents team four. Edo is also known as the city of fires since houses were built from timber and paper. There were five hundred major fires known between 1951 and 1867. Matoi is a popular motif in ukiyo-e prints from the nineteenth century., Japan, mid 18th - early 19th century, textile designs, Katagami, Katagami