"Shiitake" appears in lord Arima's land survey records, who ruled Takachiho-go from 1614. The cultivation of Shiitake in Japan began in 1664, so Takachiho-go was the most suitable land for growing Shiitake, as plenty of them grew wild.

Shiitake cultivation began in Izu and Oita, where there is a documented record from 1664. This record of Shiitake being harvested in Takachiho-go is 50 years older than the beginning of cultivation. We can say that Takachiho-go is the most suitable place for Shiitake to grow, as there were plenty of Shiitake growing wild without cultivation.

Even today, the three prefectures of Oita, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto produce about 70% of Japan's dried Shiitake, and Takachiho-go is located in the center of the three prefectures.

Shiitake are native to Southeast Asia, and it seems that the spores flew in on the jet stream and spread wild in Takachiho-go, at the foot of Mt.Sobo. There are no written records, but it may have been growing wild since 10,000 years ago, when broadleaf forests spread across Japan.