Kumano brushes, made in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, are loved for a wide range of uses including makeup brushes and calligraphy brushes, with fans worldwide for their high quality. Created one by one with delicate techniques by skilled artisans, Kumano brushes are attractive for their smooth feel on the skin and excellent writing experience.
This article will thoroughly explain Kumano brushes, known as a representative traditional Japanese craft, covering their main features, types, historical origins, and production process.
What are Kumano Brushes?
Kumano brushes (Kumano fude) are a collective term for traditional brushes made in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. The production of Kumano brushes, which has continued since the Edo period, is still highly evaluated worldwide for its high technical skill and quality.
Not only calligraphy brushes but also brushes for makeup and painting are produced, catering to various uses, and are popular both in Japan and abroad.
Characteristics and Appeal of Kumano Brushes
The greatest feature of Kumano brushes lies in the high technical skill of handmade production by artisans and the careful selection of hair materials. Each brush is carefully handmade, with the shape of the brush tip, hair length, and hardness exquisitely adjusted. The artisans’ advanced techniques result in brushes with well-aligned hair tips, appealing for their combination of softness and elasticity.
Kumano brushes are characterized by their flexibility and precision of the brush tip, highly evaluated for their quality in various fields such as calligraphy, painting, and makeup. Another appeal of Kumano brushes is that while preserving traditional manufacturing methods, they are evolving to meet modern demands.
Types and Uses of Kumano Brushes
Kumano brushes have three main types according to their use: calligraphy brushes, makeup brushes, and painting brushes, each used according to their characteristics.
Calligraphy Brushes
They excel in hair elasticity and water absorption, capable of drawing powerful lines. In many cases, “combined hair” using a combination of hard and soft hair is used, resulting in a brush tip with a balance of flexibility and hardness, suitable for various calligraphy styles.
Makeup Brushes
Characterized by their smooth feel on the skin, these brushes are specially made to apply cosmetics evenly. Particularly, Kumano makeup brushes use hair tips in their natural form without cutting, providing a very smooth and gentle feel on the skin. Soft animal hair such as squirrel or goat is often used, suitable even for sensitive skin.
Painting Brushes
Used for watercolor and oil painting, with hardness or softness widely adjusted according to use. They can handle Japanese painting and ink painting, capable of expressing from fine lines to powerful touches. Particularly, Kumano painting brushes are highly evaluated by professional painters for their well-aligned hair tips and good paint retention.
Kumano brushes of various types tailored to each use are highly evaluated in fields such as calligraphy, makeup, and painting. The high quality of Kumano brushes is due to precise manufacturing methods and careful material selection, widely loved both domestically and internationally.
Popularity of Kumano Brushes as Makeup Brushes
Kumano brushes are gaining worldwide popularity especially as makeup brushes, with their high quality widely recognized. Kumano makeup brushes use soft natural hair and are finished without cutting the hair tips, resulting in less burden on the skin and a natural finish.
Foundation brushes and eyeshadow brushes are particularly popular, loved by professional makeup artists and general consumers alike. Furthermore, they collaborate with many high-end overseas brands, establishing the brand power of Kumano brushes internationally.
For example, Kumano brush makers like Hakuhodo and Koyudo provide brushes combining luxury and durability, with many users among Hollywood actresses and models. Moreover, Kumano makeup brushes are highly popular in Asian and Western markets, with collaborations with cosmetic brands also progressing.
Differences Between Calligraphy Brushes and Kumano Brushes
There are significant differences in use and manufacturing between Kumano brushes and general calligraphy brushes. Kumano brushes originally started as calligraphy brushes but have evolved over time to cater to diverse fields such as makeup and painting brushes.
Characteristics of Calligraphy Brushes
For Kumano calligraphy brushes, hair flexibility and water absorption are emphasized. This allows for easy adjustment of line thickness and ink density according to brush pressure, enhancing the expressiveness of characters.
Characteristics of Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes require smoothness and softness of hair as they directly touch the skin. Kumano makeup brushes are designed to feel smooth on the skin and spread cosmetics evenly, highly evaluated by professional makeup artists.
Thus, Kumano brushes have evolved from their original calligraphy use, developing characteristics specialized for each use.
Reasons Why Kumano Brushes are Valued Worldwide
The reasons Kumano brushes are highly valued worldwide lie in the advanced skills and traditions of the artisans, and their ability to adapt to diverse uses. Brushes made in Kumano Town fuse traditional manufacturing methods with the latest technology, each meticulously handmade. Therefore, their quality is consistent, characterized by attention to detail in the finish.
Moreover, Kumano brushes can cater to a wide range of genres including calligraphy, makeup, and painting brushes, supported by top brands and artists worldwide. Due to their high quality, they are loved across borders.
History and Origins of Kumano Brushes
Kumano brushes are a brush brand mainly produced in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, a traditional craft continuing since the Edo period. From its origins to development and technological innovation, Kumano brushes are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and the history of calligraphy. Here, we will look at the process of its history and evolution.
Birth and Early Development of Kumano Brushes
The birth of Kumano brushes dates back to around 1830 in the late Edo period. At that time, farmers in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, would travel to other regions during the agricultural off-season to peddle brushes and ink in places like Nara and Kyoto. Through this process, they learned brush-making techniques and brought them back to Kumano, leading to the development of the brush industry. With encouragement from the Asano clan (Hiroshima clan), brush making became full-fledged in Kumano Town and established as an industry.
Moreover, the geographical characteristics of Kumano also contributed to the development of the brush industry. Located in a mountainous area, Kumano had abundant water resources and was suitable for making tools using wood, making it an environment suited for brush making. In addition to these geographical conditions, the inheritance of techniques from the Edo period and the high technical skills of local artisans combined to develop Kumano brushes as brushes catering to various uses.
Currently, not only calligraphy brushes but also makeup and painting brushes are manufactured as Kumano brushes, highly evaluated both domestically and internationally. The success of Kumano brushes is the result of continuing to evolve in response to new demands while preserving tradition.
Prosperity of Kumano Brushes in the Late Edo Period
Kumano brushes experienced significant growth in the late Edo period with the development of calligraphy culture. At that time, literacy rates in Japan were improving, and calligraphy was widely spreading as part of education and culture. This influence increased the demand for high-quality brushes, and brush making developed as a major industry in Kumano as well.
A characteristic of Kumano brushes is their well-aligned hair tips that make them easy to write with. These characteristics are supported by the advanced skills of artisans, and their high quality is highly evaluated. Artisans carefully selected animal hair and made fine adjustments to create brushes with a good writing feel. As a result, Kumano brushes became known nationwide and have been highly evaluated as high-quality brushes.
Kumano Brushes Develop Along with the Development of Calligraphy Culture
In Japan, calligraphy has a long history as part of education and art, and especially since the Edo period, it developed as an important cultivation for samurai, monks, and scholars. This flourishing of calligraphy culture became a major factor supporting the demand for Kumano brushes.
Kumano brushes are known for their durability and good writing feel, and especially in the Edo period, with the improvement of literacy rates, the demand for high-quality brushes rapidly increased. As a result, brush making in Kumano spread throughout Japan and became widely loved.
Furthermore, along with the development of calligraphy culture, Kumano brushes became known not only in Japan but also overseas. Kumano brushes for calligraphy are made in various types according to the needs of calligraphers, with brushes with unique characteristics created by artisans and supported by calligraphers.
In this way, Kumano brushes have developed along with the spread of calligraphy, and their reputation continues to rise across borders.
Attention to Kumano Brushes Also Increases with Innovation in School Education
After the Meiji era, as Japan rapidly modernized, the demand for brushes also changed. When the school system was promulgated in 1872 (Meiji 5) and school education was institutionalized, calligraphy was introduced as a compulsory subject, and many children began using brushes. From this, the production of Kumano brushes greatly activated, and the industry expanded to meet demand.
Moreover, entering the 20th century, Kumano brushes began producing not only calligraphy brushes but also painting and makeup brushes, developing techniques to cater to various fields. Especially with the development of the cosmetics industry and the increasing demand for makeup brushes, Kumano brush techniques were applied, and their softness and smooth feel on the skin became highly evaluated both domestically and internationally.
Furthermore, while preserving traditional techniques, an efficient production system was established by introducing machines, preparing Kumano brushes to meet domestic and international demand. Through such diversification and efficiency, Kumano brushes established a global position as a representative brush brand of Japan.
Production Method of Kumano Brushes
Kumano brushes are high-quality brushes made with meticulous care by artisans’ handwork. Their production involves multiple processes including hair selection and processing, brush tip shaping, shaft creation, and all processes require skilled artisan techniques. Here, we will introduce the production process of Kumano brushes in order.
Hair Selection and Processing Techniques
In the production of Kumano brushes, hair selection is a very important process. The hair used includes various animal hairs such as goat, horse, weasel, and raccoon dog, each with different characteristics.
For example, goat hair is soft and highly water-absorbent, suitable for calligraphy brushes. On the other hand, weasel hair has elasticity and is suitable for fine depictions, valued for fine brushes and makeup brushes.
Selected hair is washed and dried to remove impurities. Then, work is done to align the length and thickness of the hair and make the hair tips uniform.
This process is crucial for the quality of the brush, requiring the eyes and skilled techniques of artisans. The final high-quality brush is completed through manual selection and adjustment of the hair.
Various Processes to Shape the Brush Tip
After selecting the hair for making Kumano brushes, there is a process to shape the brush tip. This includes many processes such as “hair selection and composition,” “heat pressing and hair kneading,” “combing and hair alignment,” “removing reverse and rubbing hair,” and “length cutting.” There are also processes like core standing and hair wrapping, and through these processes, the brush tip is completed.
The tip is shaped according to the purpose, enabling it to have characteristics suitable for calligraphy, makeup, etc.
As the shaping of the tip and hair selection directly affect the quality of Kumano brushes, skilled handwork by artisans is essential. The brush-making process requires fine adjustments, with artisans progressing work while checking the condition of the hair at each process.
Brush Shaft Creation and Finishing Process
The brush shaft (handle) made after the tip is completed mainly uses wood or bamboo. In Kumano brushes, attention is paid to the shape and texture of the shaft, pursuing designs that fit well in the hand.
Especially for calligraphy brush shafts, considerations are made to fit easily in the hand and allow smooth brush movement, and traditionally, lacquer is often applied to the shaft surface, giving durability and beautiful luster.
For makeup brushes, the shaft design also emphasizes visual beauty and feel of use, with finishes applied according to brand and purpose. The production of shafts is done by artisans’ handwork from wood carving to painting, which is also an important process that greatly affects the overall feel of use of the brush.
Assembly of Kumano Brushes and Importance of Handwork
The assembly work of Kumano brushes is the final stage of firmly joining the hair and brush shaft. Artisans carefully adjust to ensure the hair is firmly fixed to the shaft, completing a long-lasting brush.
When attaching the hair to the shaft, checks and fine adjustments are made to ensure the hair tip is aligned and properly adhered to the shaft. In this work, durability and shape stability are achieved by firmly fixing the hair at the root.
Moreover, it is important that the brush tip is balanced, and artisans make final adjustments while aligning the hair tips. The precise finish and good feel of use of Kumano brushes are supported by such artisan skills.
Fusion of Modern Technology and Traditional Techniques
Kumano brushes maintain long-standing traditional techniques while actively incorporating modern technology in production. Processes such as hair shaping and washing by mechanization are automated, enabling mass production.
However, the processes of brush tip making and finishing that determine the quality of the brush still depend on artisans’ handwork. These processes require fine adjustments and checks, and the artisans’ skills are a major factor in maintaining the high quality of Kumano brushes.
Furthermore, in recent years, product development catering to new uses such as makeup brushes has progressed, with many products appearing that balance functionality and design. Through such product development, Kumano brushes are widely evaluated not only for traditional calligraphy use but also for makeup and painting use.
Thus, the production method of Kumano brushes is based on the fusion of artisan skills and modern technology, resulting in high-quality brushes used in various fields. This is one of the reasons why Kumano brushes are evaluated worldwide.
Summary
Kumano brushes are traditional brushes produced in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, catering to various uses such as calligraphy, painting, and makeup. Their production involves multiple processes centered on skilled handwork by artisans, including hair selection, tip formation, shaft creation, and assembly.
Kumano brushes have flourished since the Edo period and have been highly evaluated both domestically and internationally along with the development of calligraphy culture. They are a craft that has gained worldwide popularity in the fields of makeup brushes and painting brushes due to technological innovation through modernization and fusion with modern technology.
