It was once customary for men and women to tie their hair in a topknot, using a white motoyui (a type of paper cord). In ancient times, a braided cord or hemp string was used, but during the Edo period a type of paper string called a "mizuhiki" began to be used for tying the topknots. Motoyui were made in a long process that involved braiding thin strips of paper together, drying them in the sun, polishing them with rice powder and finally giving them a lustrous finish using glutinous-rice powder. Motoyui were once essential everyday items and what's more were only used once. Even today when tying hair in the traditional Japanese hairstyle the hair is said to not sit properly without a motoyui.

Even as the use of motoyui became less common, crafts using mizuhiki gained popularity and many different ways of knotting them were devised. Long ago, when court ladies tied objects with hemp string they would hold the string in their mouth. Because of this, half of the string would become tinged with red. This was considered good luck and mizuhiki, first dyed in red and white, and then many other colors were made. Even today, mizuhiki are an indispensable part of many ceremonial occasions as well as temple and shrine festivals in Kanazawa.