What is Kumano brush?Kumano Fu is a traditional craft made in Kumano, Aki-gun, Hiroshima. Kumano brushes are characterized by the use of animal hair such as goats, horses, deer, raccoon dogs, weasels and cats.Instead of trimming the hair of the tip, the tip is put out using a tree shape called “Koma”. By making use of natural hair, the tip of the hair is delicate and the brush has an appropriate stiffness. Kumano brushes can be named only for those whose heads are made in Kumano-cho using traditional methods such as hairy mash using rice husk ash and thread tightening using hemp thread.In Kumano, paintbrushes and makeup brushes are made, including those that have been designated as “traditional crafts” by the country. It takes more than 70 processes to complete a Kumano brush, but most of it is done manually. Skilled techniques are required in all processes, including the process of selecting hair to be used for brushes, which are considered particularly difficult, and the process of hair selection and hair combination (Kegumi).In Kumano Town, we are actively working to develop successors.

History

The history of Kumano brush dates back to the late Edo period. The main industry of Kumano Town was agriculture, but the farmland was narrow due to the basin, and migrant work was carried out in Nara and Kishu during the idle season. It was very popular to work with brushes and ink on the way of migrant work, but due to this relationship, Teiji Sasaki was Arima at the end of Edo in 1835 (Tempo 5) and Inoue in 1846 (Kohua 3) It was the beginning of Jihei's training from Hiroshi Asano (Hiroshima), Fudashi, and Otamaru Tsuneta, who learned how to make brushes in Arima, and spread the technology. Brush making will be encouraged by Hiroshima .In the Meiji era, the demand for writing brushes increased due to the widespread use of the educational system, and the production volume will continue to expand, but temporary production will not be possible due to the Second World War.After the war, when calligraphy education was discontinued, not only writing brushes but also painting and makeup brushes were started. After that, calligraphy education at school was revived in 1958, and the demand for Kumano brushes increased.Kumano brush was designated as a traditional craft product in 1975 (Showa 50), acquired a collective trademark in 2004 (Heisei 16), and now accounts for 80% of the production of domestic brushes. It has developed to.

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