Find All Kinds of Brushes at Kanaya Brush

Hello, this is the staff of The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon. In this article, we would like to introduce Kanaya Brush, a store specializing in brushes established in 1914 (Taisho 3). With three stores in Asakusa (Denboin-dori, Shin-Nakamise-dori, and Kappabashi-dori), Kanaya Brush is a unique specialty store that offers all kinds of brushes and brushes made of natural materials such as horsehair and pig hair.

Kanaya Brush boasts a history of over 100 years, having burned down twice.

Kanaya Brush was founded in 1914 by Shigeharu Ouchi, a native of Kyoto, as Ouchi Brush Store in Seiten-cho, Asakusa-ku, Tokyo. The company building burned down in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, but manufacturing resumed immediately, and in 1928, the company moved to its current location in Imado, Taito-ku, Tokyo, as part of a rezoning project. When the company returned to Tokyo after the war, it changed its name to Kanaya Sangyo-sha after Kanaya-cho, Kyoto, where the company had been evacuated. Later, in 1982, the company changed its name to the current Kanaya Brush Sangyo (Kanaya Brush Industry), a history of hardship that has been overcome to the present day.

From hairbrushes to industrial brushes. From home use to professional use, they have all kinds of products.

In the store, there are all kinds of brushes and brushes for home use to professional use. Hair brushes used by hair stylists, brushes used by cooks and painters, clothes brushes used by cleaners… Who knew there are so many kinds of brushes? You will be surprised at how many different kinds of brushes there are! Among them, brushes come in different sizes and bristle lengths for different culinary uses, and are made of different materials than those used for painting. Soft bristle brushes made of shuro are especially popular for daily use at home.

Brushes of different sizes and materials are used for different purposes.

The soft bristles of the shuro material are suitable for washing vegetables.

The most popular product is their toothbrush, with varying degrees of hardness from which you can choose.

Kanaya Hashiko’s most popular product is their toothbrush made of horse or pig bristles. Since they are made of natural materials, the tips of the bristles do not open easily and last for a long time. The same horse hair is used for both the hard and soft parts of the bristles, so you can choose a toothbrush with the hardness you prefer. They also require only a small amount of toothpaste because of their foaming action. Once you use it, you will never go back to a regular toothbrush!

Horsehair toothbrushes are available from 363 yen per piece.

It is not often that you can buy a brush made of natural materials. This is a store where you are sure to find a gift that will please even the most discerning of friends. The Asakusa Denboin-dori store is about a 4-minute walk from The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon. It is fun just to look at the various brushes, so please visit the store.