The Banshu abacus is a wooden calculating tool produced in and around Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Originally introduced from China via Nagasaki to Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, the abacus became a local industry in Banshu in 1580.
Banshu abacus making started as a sideline industry during the off-peak farming season, but developed dramatically with the spread of the terakoya system in the Edo period.
After World War II, abacus production reached its peak, with an annual output of 360 abacuses.
As the world became increasingly computerised, demand for abacuses declined, but the company continues to take on new challenges in order to pass on the skills of its artisans as a craft with high artistic value.
It is said that using the fingers on the abacus increases blood flow to the brain, which can be expected to have a variety of benefits, including the growth and development of the brain and motor functions in children and the prevention of dementia in the elderly.
Why not give a pop-up, fun abacus as a gift for a child's birthday or as a celebration of longevity to a loved one?
Click BANSHU SOROBAN CRAFT COOPERATIVE｜BANSHU SOROBAN (ABACUS)