About Kumano and it’s Brushes:
Kumano is a small town in Japan near Hiroshima that is surrounded by a beautiful mountain landscape.
To celebrate Kumano Fude an annual brush festival called “Fude matsuri” is held every autumn and in 1994 the brush museum Fudenosato Kobo opened. After all, manufacturing brushes is a very important industry for the people of Kumano. Not only to secure jobs at present and for future generations, it has also received a greater extent of global recognition over the years, with more tourists from outside of Japan interested in this small brush making town.
A little Kumano Fude history:
Due to merely seasonal agriculture in Kumano a lot of farmers had to search out work elsewhere and returned home with the approaching annual planting season. To attain additional income on their journeys they often bought writing brushes and ink from the Nara and Osaka region to sell them for a profit on their way home. This is where the idea of producing and selling brushes in Kumano originated.
Over time, craftsman concentrated on perfecting procedures and skills to be able to create what we today know as Kumano Fude – a perfectly handmade, high quality makeup brush. In more recent years some traditional calligraphy and painting brush makers explored opportunities to produce fine cosmetic brushes using the same traditional techniques. A lot of skill, knowledge and experience goes into creating Japanese brushes and it takes a craftsman over 10 years to be proficiently trained.
Since introducing Japanese makeup brushes to the beauty industry, their recognition is increasingly growing amongst professional Makeup Artist as well as Personal Users. Everyone appreciates a high quality Japanese Makeup Brush. The worldwide demand and admiration for “Japanese Fude” certainly did not go unnoticed. Consequently, a few smaller Kumano brush manufacturers are eager to produce cosmetic brushes as well. This is where Fude Japan comes in. We would like to globally introduce the “outsiders” but also make brushes available to buy from more “established” brush companies.