Visit Kumano, Hiroshima- Japan’s #1 brush-making town

Kumano, Hiroshima is a town known for its beautiful, durable and carefully hand-made
Kumano brushes. These brushes are used for Japanese calligraphy, painting, and makeup. It
takes more than ten years for one person to master the craftsmanship of a Kumano brush.
Kumano is an inspirational place to visit for those who are interested in Japanese calligraphy
and the art of brush making.<div

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Kumano, a small brush manufacturing town in Hiroshima

Kumano in Hiroshima Prefecture is a town surrounded by mountains. It is located between Hiroshima City, Kure City, and Higashi Hiroshima City. It is about a 30-minute drive from central Hiroshima city. With a brush-making history of over 180 years, Kumano has long flourished as Japan's leading brush-manufacturing town. Kumano produces 15 million brushes a year, which makes up about 80% to 90% of Japan's total brush production. The brushes from Kumano are handmade, which means one craftsman usually makes 1,000 to 2,000 brushes in a month. Kumano has had a profound appreciation for Japanese calligraphy, and the town's public elementary schools teach Japanese calligraphy from as early as first grade (although usually, it is from third grade). Kumano’s children are taught from early on to concentrate on writing beautifully with a good posture and to appreciate an excellent hand-made calligraphy brush.

The art of making a Kumano brush

In Kumano, there are 1,500 brush-making craftsmen and 21 official “traditional craftsmen” that are designated by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Crafts Industries. These traditional craftsmen have been making Kumano brushes for over 12 years, teach brush making to the younger generation, and have passed certification tests. One needs to be trained for many years to master Kumano’s traditional brush making. There are many steps needed to create one good calligraphy brush, such as selecting the right high quality hair, mixing the right amount of different animal hair, and all processes require technique, including rubbing, pressing them, cutting them into the right size. "Bon-maze" is a method that is used to make many brushes at once (about 50 to 150 brushes a day), as opposed to "neri-maze" which is a method used when making more high-quality brushes. When using this method, one can only make about 20 to 50 brushes a day. In any case, most of the process is handmade, and many traditional steps need to be taken to create one right brush.

Kumano’s brushes used for paintings and make-up

For a long time, Kumano craftsmen only made brushes for calligraphy use, but after World War II, they started to create brushes for paintings and make-up. Kumano paintbrushes and make-up brushes are also carefully made with the same craftsmanship as calligraphy brushes. Its high quality brushes have been well received by top make-up artists and renowned global make-up companies in recent years.
The best time to visit is when they have their annual “Kumano Brush Festival” on the day of the Autumn Equinox (September 22nd or 23rd). The festival takes place every year to pay thanks to brushes for contributing to the town’s growth. They have dynamic calligraphy performances, brush burning rituals, traditional dances, and the highlight is the ritual of dragging a decorated ship to a shrine.

How to visit?

The shortest way to go from Tokyo to Hiroshima is by airplane. Take a domestic flight from Haneda/Narita airport to Hiroshima airport （90 min）and then a limousine bus to JR Hiroshima station (45 min). From JR Hiroshima Station, take the Hiroshima Electric Railway Bus to Kumano (45 min).

Address:
5-17-1 Nakamizo Kumano-cho Aki-gun Hiroshima 731-4293 (Fudenosatokobo)
Tel：+81-(0)82-855-3010 (Fudenosatokobo)