Unshu Soroban are soroban (abacuses) made in Okuizumo Town, Nita District, Shimane Prefecture. They are said to have originated in the Tenpo era of the late Edo period, when 村上吉五郎, a carpenter from Kamedake, made a soroban from local materials, modeling it on a soroban from Hiroshima. Later, craftspeople in Yokota opened up the techniques and worked to teach them, and in the Meiji era many craftspeople were trained and the production area took shape. Known as sturdy, easy-to-use soroban whose beads move smoothly and make a clear, high-pitched sound when flicked, they are also praised with the phrase 'Unshu for quality'. Today, hard woods are used, such as tsuge (boxwood) and kaba (birch) for the beads and ebony for the frame, and each soroban is finished through more than 180 processes. Along with Banshu Soroban of Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, it is a production area known throughout Japan, and in 1985 (Showa 60) it was designated a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (a national Traditional Craft).
Origin
The founder of Unshu Soroban is considered to be 村上吉五郎, a carpenter from Kamedake. The beginning is said to be when 吉五郎 made a soroban modeled on one from Hiroshima (the Aki region): around Tenpo 1 (1830) according to Shimane Prefecture materials, and during the Tenpo era according to other materials. At first, the heartwood of the plum tree was used for the beads, susudake (smoke-darkened bamboo) for the core rods on which the beads are threaded, and kashi (Japanese oak) for the frame. It was a soroban that made use of materials available locally.
History
吉五郎's techniques are said to have been passed down to only one heir, but later 高橋常作, 村上朝吉 and others in Yokota devised tools and processing methods, opened up the techniques and worked to teach them. In this way, many craftspeople were trained in the Meiji era. Peddlers sold the soroban throughout Japan under the name '雲州算盤' (Unshu Soroban), and the name became known when they were widely sold to government offices during land surveys in the Meiji era. In the Showa 30s, mechanization of the processes advanced, and in 1985 Unshu Soroban were designated a national Traditional Craft.
Features
Unshu Soroban are made with particular care given to finishing the beads and the core bamboo rods that serve as their axes. A good soroban is said to be one whose beads move smoothly and make a clear, high-pitched sound when flicked. By making the shapes of the beads and the sizes of their holes uniform and finishing the gap between bead and rod evenly, every bead moves in the same way. Engraving the craftsperson's name on the soroban is regarded as a mark of quality, and while it is a practical tool, it also has the beauty of a finely made craft.
Techniques
Carving the beads
A technique in which hard woods such as tsuge and kaba are naturally dried for a year or more, dried further as rough beads, and then carved one by one into diamond-shaped beads. The force of the hand must be adjusted according to the hardness of the wood, and because beads can crack when processed by machine, handwork is valued.
Threading the beads and finishing
The work in the assembly process of passing the bamboo rods through the holes in the beads. At 雲州そろばん協業組合, rods of 2.93 mm are passed through bead holes of 3.15 mm, and skilled craftspeople smooth out any unevenness by the feel of their hands. Making the gap between bead and rod uniform leads to light, nimble bead flicking.
Hand-turned lathe
A hand-turned lathe for carving beads, said to have been devised by 村上朝吉 of Yokota. Production is said to have increased after it was developed. The production method of this area is called the Unshu style, and production tools such as the hand-turned lathe became a Registered Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 2006.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Drying
Hard woods used for the beads and frame are naturally dried over a long period.
- 2
Making the beads
The wood is processed into rough beads, dried further, and carved into diamond-shaped beads.
- 3
Making the rods
Bamboo is cut to size and polished round so that the beads move smoothly.
- 4
Making the frame
Frame pieces are cut out and each part is processed, for example by drilling holes for the rods.
- 5
Assembly
The beads are threaded onto the rods and assembled into the frame, and the soroban is finished through repeated test assembly and fine adjustment.
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Artisans & Workshops
雲州そろばん協業組合
A soroban maker with its factory in 下横田, Okuizumo Town. In May 1997, five companies merged to unify soroban production and sales. It handles everything from production to sales and repairs. Bead making has been carried out by 内田文雄, a certified traditional craftsperson selected as a Contemporary Master Craftsman (Gendai no Meiko) in 2013, and others.
Official site →雲州算盤協同組合
The production-area cooperative for Unshu Soroban, located at 992-2 Yokota, Okuizumo Town. It is registered as a manufacturer of Shimane Prefecture Furusato Traditional Crafts. It shares its address with 雲州そろばん伝統産業会館 (the Unshu Soroban traditional industry hall) and is next to JR Izumo-Yokota Station.
How to Buy
- Online shop of 雲州そろばん協業組合
- 雲州そろばん協業組合 introduces its products on its official website and sells them through its store on Yahoo! Shopping. According to the official website, a standard 23-digit soroban costs from about 6,050 yen (tax included) with kaba beads and about 8,800 yen with tsuge beads. It also accepts inquiries about repairs.Where to buy →PR
- 雲州算盤協同組合
- The production-area cooperative at 992-2 Yokota, Okuizumo Town (tel. 0854-52-0369). It is listed as a manufacturer on Shimane Prefecture's page introducing traditional crafts and serves as a point of contact for questions about producers and products.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
雲州そろばん伝統産業会館
島根県仁多郡奥出雲町横田992-2
An exhibition facility next to JR Izumo-Yokota Station. It displays Unshu Soroban ranging from works by past masters to those by Contemporary Master Craftsmen, production tools that are Registered Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan, and soroban from around Japan and the world. The booking site 'Jalan' lists admission from about 310 yen. It is open from 9:00 to 16:30, and closing days differ depending on the source, so it is advisable to check in advance.
View details →FAQ
Q. How do Unshu Soroban differ from Banshu Soroban?
A. Both are national Traditional Crafts, and they are spoken of together as the two major production areas. Banshu Soroban of Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, have been mass-produced through a division-of-labor system in which craftspeople from farming households share the making of parts. Unshu Soroban are characterized by integrated production by craftspeople who are particular about quality, and are called 'Unshu for quality'.