Kumano brush is a generic name for brushes made in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a traditional craft representing Hiroshima Prefecture, and is used for various purposes, including calligraphy brushes for calligraphy, painting brushes for watercolor painting, and cosmetic brushes for makeup. The cosmetic brushes are especially famous, and in 1975 they were the first in Japan to be designated as a traditional craft in the hairbrush industry. Kumano brushes are made of various animal hairs, mainly from horses, raccoon dogs, weasels, deer, and goats. In order to take advantage of the characteristics of each type of hair and make brushes that are easy to use, several types of hair are mixed to produce brushes in various blends for different purposes.
It is said that there are more than 70 processes involved in making a brush, and most of the series of processes, from sorting the hair to bundling it, are done by hand by skilled craftsmen. Especially at the brush-making festival, animal hairs with different properties are used for different purposes, so the skills of craftsmen with many years of human experience and advanced techniques are essential. In the case of cosmetic brushes, they are smooth, comfortable, and gentle to the skin, and with regular care they can be used for 3 to 5 years; in May 2012, they were presented as a memento of the National Honor Award to Nadeshiko Japan, the Japanese national team that won the Women's World Cup soccer tournament for the first time.
Kumano Town is a plateau-shaped basin surrounded by the towns of Hiroshima, Kure, Higashihiroshima, and other cities and mountains at an elevation of approximately 500 meters. The population is said to be about 24,500, of which about 2,500 are engaged in the brush industry. In addition, there are 18 masters of brush making who are certified as traditional craftsmen under the Densho Law. Kumano Town is called the "capital of brushes" and is one of the brush production areas along with Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture, Nara City in Nara Prefecture, and Kawajiri Town in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Kumano Town accounts for 80% of the domestic market share. In order to promote brush culture and develop the brush industry, the spring equinox is designated as "Brush Day" and the autumn equinox as "Brush Festival.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Kumano Brush”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
Around the end of the Edo period (1603-1867), the village of Kumano, surrounded by mountains and with little flat land, found it difficult to make a living from agriculture alone, so they used the off-season to purchase and sell brushes and ink sticks. This was the beginning of the connection between the brush and Kumano.
About 180 years ago, the Hiroshima Clan's encouragement of the craft led to the expansion of brush and ink sales throughout the country and the acquisition of brush-making techniques in earnest.
Thereafter, brush-making techniques took root through the enthusiasm and efforts of the villagers, and with the establishment of the school system in 1872, brushes began to be used in school education, leading to a significant increase in production.
After World War II, there was a period of time when the production of brushes declined due to the suppression of calligraphy education, but around 1955, production of painting brushes and cosmetic brushes began, utilizing the techniques of calligraphy brush making. According to data from 1979 (Showa 54), Hiroshima Prefecture accounts for more than 60% of all brushes used in Japan (80% for calligraphy brushes alone), and has developed into a major production center.
Today, the area is known as the largest producer of brushes, painting brushes, and cosmetic brushes in Japan. In recent years, the quality of its cosmetic brushes has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. In this way, Kumano's brush making is still passed down from parents to children and from children to grandchildren.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Kumano Brush”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.