Kawajiri Brushes Stationary Hiroshima Prefecture Cooperative Union Kawajiri Brushes Cooperative Union 729-2603 1-2-2 Kawajirimachi-nishi, Kure-shi, Hiroshima Prefecture tel 0823-87-2395 Background It seems that the link between Kure and writing brushes dates back to when some brushes were acquired from a region of what is now Hyogo Prefecture by one Kikutani Sanzo at the beginning of the 19th century. The brushes were brought for use at the temples in the area and, as a result of this business, the advantages of actually making brushes during the slack time of the agricultural calendar were explained to the local farmers. It was the brushes made by Ueno Yaekichi in the middle of the 19th century that marked the real beginnings of the production of what came to be known as the Kawajiri writing brush. Subsequently others took up the work and gradually these brushes became known throughout the country. The way in which the hair for these brushes is combined is not really suited to mass production methods. It does, however, produce a very high quality brush, the making of which demands very specific skills. Presently there are 17 firms employing some 136 people producing these fine brushes, which are still prized amongst exponents of calligraphy throughout Japan.