Narrator: If a single hair is out of place
on a high-end calligraphy brush,
it must be removed.
This intense attention to detail
is part of why these brushes can cost over $1,000.
You can find a beginner brush for less than $15,
but for handmade brushes custom-designed
for a master calligrapher,
artisans spend months
turning raw hair into a perfect brush tip.
But what makes these brushes unique?
And why are they so expensive?
Calligraphy is a respected art form in Japan
and has been practiced for centuries.
But today, there aren't many skilled brushmakers left.
Yoshiyuki Hata is a third-generation brushmaker
and has been making calligraphy brushes
since he was a teenager.
Narrator: His family's workshop in Kawajiri focuses on
what they call "no-compromise craftsmanship."
Each brush tip is handmade by a single artisan.
But making these brushes isn't easy.
Narrator: For a master calligrapher, like Daizo Kaneko,
small differences in a brush's hardness or ink retention
can drastically affect the lines it can produce.
Narrator: The dozens of steps involved in brushmaking
start with selecting the hair.
Different types of hair have a big impact
on the price of a brush.
Yoshiyuki's specialty is one of the priciest:
goat hair.
This hair was collected 50 years ago
from the chest of Yangtze River Delta white goats.
Hair from this specific breed of goat
is classified as Type III hair,
based on its size, luster, and elasticity.
It's a highly sought-after hair for brushmaking
because it's soft, yet durable
and retains ink well.
Narrator: But today, this type of hair
is hard to find in large quantities
and can cost thousands of dollars per kilogram.
Selecting high-quality hair is done entirely by eye,
and it's one of the hardest skills
for a new brushmaker to learn.
Narrator: But this long process is just beginning.
Once the hairs are chosen,
they're boiled and combed to remove any fluff.
This process separates straight, long hairs,
which are ideal for brushmaking.
One of the most time-consuming steps
is aligning all of these hairs.
This delicate work is key to making a uniform brush,
but it's largely based on experience and instinct.
Narrator: Throughout the process,
brushmakers patiently remove any imperfect or damaged hairs.
Narrator: At this stage, Yoshiyuki's vision
for a brush starts to take shape.
After trimming, he wets the hair
and combines different bundles
to create a brush that is dense and durable.
Then he dips the hair in funori,
an adhesive liquid made from seaweed,
to hold the hairs together.
Narrator: The finished brush tip
is almost unrecognizable from the raw hair.
But the precise work isn't over yet.
Once the hair dries, Yoshiyuki ties up the ends
and burns each one with a hot iron,
binding the hairs together.
Any mistake here could ruin a month of work.
Finally, it's time to assemble the brush.
Like the brush tip, each handle is custom-made.
Narrator: This time-consuming process,
along with the materials used,
means these brushes can cost 100 times more
than a mass-produced brush.
The price varies based on the size and type of brush.
A larger brush requires more hair,
which naturally increases the price.
Hata Bunshindou brushes often cost around $1,300,
but some brushes can cost a lot more.
Narrator: Despite the high price,
these brushes are essential tools
for calligraphers like Daizo.
He followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather
and has been practicing calligraphy for 20 years.
Narrator: Some brushmakers mix natural and synthetic hair
to make brushes more affordable.
But Yoshiyuki remains committed
to using only the highest-quality materials.
Koso, Yoshiyuki's son, will be the workshop's
fourth-generation brushmaker.
Narrator: But like many traditional crafts,
the future of brushmaking is unclear.
Demand for handmade brushes is in decline.
Some brushmakers have started selling makeup brushes
to bring in new customers.
But the main concern for Yoshiyuki and his family
is the lack of raw materials.