Japanese Paint Brushes

Japanese paint brushes are handcrafted watercolor and art brushes made from natural animal hair, designed to hold a generous load of water and release color in smooth, controlled strokes. This collection features Akashiya brushes from Nara, Japan, including weasel hair menso brushes for fine detail work and a bamboo brush roll to carry them. They suit watercolor, sumi-e, nihonga, calligraphy, and illustration.

Akashiya has made brushes in Nara, the historic heart of Japanese brush making, since 1716. Weasel hair gives a fine, springy point that keeps its shape through long sessions of detail work, from thin outlines in sumi-e to lettering in etegami. Pair them with our Japanese watercolor paints for a complete painting set.