Historical background

During the Edo period, Date Masamune (伊達政宗), the lord of the Sendai domain, sought to introduce brush-making techniques to Sendai. To achieve this, he invited the brush maker Syōgonojō (周五之丞) to the region. It is believed that later, at Syōgonojō’s recommendation, Komura Matabē (小村右兵衛) from Osaka also moved to Sendai to continue the craft.

At that time, lower-ranking samurai in the Sendai domain are not well paid, many of them have second job. In Sendai, some worked as masons, blacksmiths — and even brush makers.  Those brush makers lived in Sanbyakuninmachi (三百人町) and Renbōkōji (連坊小路), areas that are now part of Wakabayashi Ward (若林区) in Sendai City (仙台市).

Brush making once thrived in Sendai, but over time, the number of brush makers declined. Today, only one traditional brush maker remains in the Sendai area.

Characteristics

Sendai brushes are well known for their high quality — characterized by flexibility, excellent ink retention, and durability. Unlike other brush-making regions, Sendai brush makers handle every step of the production process themselves, without outsourcing any part of the work.

• Famous products 

• Sendai brushes vs other Japanese brushes

Taking the Kumano brush (熊野筆), which accounts for about 80% of Japan’s brush production, as an example. A key step in brush making is removing grease and impurities from the animal hair to ensure better durability and performance. In Sendai, artisans traditionally use boiling, which allows for gentle cleansing of the hair, though it takes more time to dry. On the other hand, Kumano brush makers often use hot ironing.

My voice

I have never seen a real Sendai brush in person, but through various websites, I’ve come to understand it more deeply.

It’s hard to imagine that in today’s world, a brush can still be made entirely by one craftsman without dividing the work — which speaks volumes about its exceptional quality.

Sendai brushes have gone beyond being mere writing tools; they have truly reached the level of art. If I have the time, I will definitely visit the shop in person.