Preserving Edo Craftmanship with Artisanal Passion at Uno Brush

“I’ve always loved working with my hands. Once I start, I lose track of time,” says Chieko Uno with a bright smile. As the third-generation owner of Uno Brush, a company founded by her father in 1917, she has dedicated her life to preserving the craft of traditional handmadehakebrushes. Having naturally stepped into the family business 64 years ago by assisting her father and fellow artisans, she now works alongside her daughter, Michiyo, to develop products that meet the needs of a new era.

Hakebrushes, essential tools for applying paint and other coatings, as opposed to brushes used to clean and clear dirt, evolved during the flourishing Edo period, diversifying into many specialized types. Traditional Japanese crafts, in particular, rely heavily on these tools. Different brushes were created for a variety of uses, such as paper-mount brushes for craftsmen,urushilacquer brushes, woodblock printing brushes, dyeing brushes, doll-making brushes, as well as face powder brushes and paintbrushes. Today, these are collectively designated as Edo Brushes, recognized as traditional crafts of Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Western-style brushes, introduced from Europe in the Meiji period, became widely used in households and were increasingly mass-produced by machines. However, Tokyo maintained its tradition of hand-planted brushes, known for their durability and precision. This craftsmanship was passed down through generations, and these brushes, now designated as Tokyo Hand-Planted Brushes, remain a certified traditional craft of the city.

When Uno Brush was first established, it primarily producedhakebrushes for professional craftsmen. However, as demand shifted, the company expanded into general brush production, later diversifying into industrial and cleaning brushes. Compared to brush-making, crafting traditional Edohakebrushes is a more technically demanding process. The unexpected passing of Chieko’s predecessor shortly after her marriage also led to an increased focus on brush manufacturing.

“The craftsmen trained by my father inherited the work we had been doing, while we focused on finding new customers. At first, I wasn’t sure how things would turn out, but people passing by the shop would often stop in and ask, ‘Can you make a brush like this?’ and place orders. In the early Showa era, my father decided we needed to be in a high-traffic location, which led us to move our shop to this national highway. Thanks to that decision, we’ve made it this far.”

Industrial brushes, which are attached to machinery, need to be custom-made for each application. As such, Uno Brush specialized at the time in producing brushes to meet the needs of various clients, including factories, machine manufacturers, and research institutes. Chieko worked tirelessly alongside her husband, Yuzo, to fulfill the many orders they received. When Yuzo fell ill, their daughter, Michiyo, stepped in to help with the family business.

As Michiyo learned the craft ofhakebrush-making from now third-generation head Chieko, she also took on the challenge of developing new products in collaboration with designers. This resulted in innovative creations such as the Animal Series of body brushes shaped like the animals from which the bristles originate, and the Miyabi Series featuring intricatekumikolatticework designs. These brushes are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing to the extent that they can even be displayed as interior decor.

“My father had great foresight and was always thinking of new ideas. Perhaps my daughter takes after him. I can barely keep up, but thanks to her, we’ve started participating in department store events, where I get to interact with customers directly. I love teaching them how to use our brushes properly. When they come back later and tell me, ‘I used it just as you suggested, and it was amazing,’ that moment is the greatest reward for me.”

Even at 83, Chieko still works from morning to evening without feeling the strain. Her exceptional craftsmanship has been recognized, and she is now a certified Tokyo Traditional Craftsperson in both Edo Brushes and Tokyo Hand-Planted Brushes. Thanks to Michiyo’s initiative in launching an online store, Uno Brush now receives orders from overseas, with some customers so devoted that they purchase multiple pieces of the same shoe brush. “I want to continue making each piece with care, ensuring the highest quality.” With her passion unwavering, Chieko’s journey in craftsmanship is far from over.