Toyohashi Fude (Toyohashi Writing Brushes)

Toyohashi Fude are calligraphy brushes made primarily in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, along with Tahara City and Toyokawa City, with hundreds of varieties produced for calligraphy as well as Japanese painting and cosmetic use. Its origins are said to trace back to 1804 (Bunka 1), when Suzuki Jinzaemon was invited from Kyoto to the Yoshida domain (present-day Toyohashi) and introduced the craft of brush-making. Its defining feature is a unique technique called 'nerimaze,' in which animal hair such as raccoon dog and weasel fur is softened with water and blended together, skillfully combining hair of different types, thicknesses, and lengths to achieve a smooth writing feel and excellent ink retention and release. About 36 processes -- from selecting and kneading the hair to cutting, blending, mounting, finishing, and engraving the maker's name -- are all done by hand. In production volume it ranks second nationwide after Kumano Fude (Hiroshima Prefecture), but as a production area for high-grade brushes for calligraphers it holds one of the leading positions in Japan, with roughly 1.8 million brushes distributed nationwide each year. It was designated a Traditional Craft (designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry) in 1976.