Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, a famous poet of ancient Japan, also has a waka poem about Mitsumata.  Mitsumata was named “Mitsumata” because its branches are divided into three parts.  It is also referred to as mitsumata, three branches, or three forks.  Mitsumata opens pale yellow flowers all at once as if to announce spring, so it was also called “Sakikusa(Flowers telling spring) and it was said to be an auspicious auspicious grass, so it was also called “happy grass”.  Along with mulberry, it is also an important raw material for Japanese paper, and it is also used in Japanese banknotes, which are known worldwide for their excellence.

「春されば　まず三枝の　幸くあらば　後にも逢はむな　恋ひそ吾妹」(春が来ればまず真っ先に咲く三枝のように、幸いならばまた逢えるだろう。そんなに恋焦がれないでおくれ、愛しい人よ)
柿本人麻呂がミツマタ(三椏)を詠んだ和歌です。ミツマタはその枝が必三つに分かれるので、「ミツマタ」と名付けられました。三椏とも三枝または三叉とも表記します。ミツマタはあたかも春を告げるかのごとく一足先に淡い黄色の花を一斉に開（ひ）らくため「先草＝サキクサ」とも呼ばれたり、縁起の良い吉兆の草とされていたので「幸草（サキクサ）」と呼ばれたりすることもあります。コウゾと並んで和紙の重要な原料でもあり、世界的にもその優秀さを知られた日本の紙幣にも使われています。