studio hamagawa
About Company
A brush to inspire.
A moment to create.
studio hamagawa is a calligraphy tool design studio based in Kanazawa, Japan, led by Yuuya Hamakawa. Bringing together the quiet beauty of wabi-sabi and an avant-garde spirit, the studio creates brushes and tools for contemporary everyday life.
Making room for brush and ink
After eight years working in a calligraphy supply shop, Hamakawa set out to introduce brush culture in a more open, contemporary way. He began practicing as a calligraphy brush designer in November 2024.
His tools are intended for people discovering calligraphy for the first time as well as those who already enjoy a regular creative practice. Respect for tradition meets a playful approach to design, inviting people to pick up a brush and begin.
Carving character into every brush
Each handle begins as a piece of wood, cut and shaped on a lathe with woodworking tools. Depending on the design, Hamakawa uses pine soot or bengara pigments with persimmon tannin, followed by a finish of beeswax or rice bran wax. The handles are then fitted with brush heads made in Kumano.
Curves, contours, wood grain, and color give each brush its own character. Alongside handmade brushes, the studio’s Creema shop features small inkstones and bottled ink with droppers.
Meet the maker
Yuuya Hamakawa
Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa, Hamakawa traveled to France through his involvement in street dance. The experience deepened his interest in Japanese traditional culture. Back in Japan, he developed his knowledge at a calligraphy supply shop in Kanazawa before founding studio hamagawa in 2024.
Design recognition & further reading
Handmade Ink Brush: selected for 2025–2026
The studio’s handmade brushes are featured in the Ishikawa Design Center Selection 2025–2026. The accompanying profile introduces the designs and the maker’s creative background.
Read the feature (Japanese) →Studio information
| Studio | studio hamagawa |
|---|---|
| Designer | Yuuya Hamakawa |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Location | Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan |
| Specialty | Design, production, and sale of handmade brushes and calligraphy tools |
| Online shop | studio hamagawa on Creema (Japanese) |
| @y2.hmg |
