BANSHU SOROBAN CRAFT COOPERATIVE｜BANSHU SOROBAN (ABACUS)

Brand

Playing with fine traditional crafts

BANSHU Soroban Craft Cooperative

• BANSHU Soroban (Abacus)
• Hidetaka Miyanaga

History

The abacus continued to be loved by the common people

Banshuu abacuses are wooden calculating tools produced in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, and the surrounding area.

Originally introduced to Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, from China via Nagasaki in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the production of Otsu abacuses quickly flourished due to its proximity to merchant towns such as Osaka and Kyoto.

Later, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Miki Castle in 1580, residents who fled to Otsu learnt abacus-making techniques and brought them back to their homeland, which is said to be the origin of the Banshu abacus.

They began to make abacus beads as a side job during the farming season, and gradually developed into an industry.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), terakoya, or elementary schools, were opened throughout the country to provide elementary education in reading, writing and calculation to the general public, and demand for abacuses, which facilitated calculation, increased dramatically.

After the war, the abacus industry reached its peak, with production of Banshu abacuses reaching 3.6 million per year at its peak, as abacuses were used in primary schools maths classes and became a standard part of children's lessons.

Their popularity continued until the introduction of calculators in the 1960s, but as the world became increasingly computerised, demand declined and there was a serious shortage of successors.

In 1976, the Banshu abacus was recognised as a traditional handicraft by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and new efforts are being made to develop new products that match the modern age and to communicate its value widely.

Characteristic

Crafts with functional beauty

A major characteristic of the Banshu abacus is that it is a highly valuable craftwork, not only as a calculating tool but also as a work of art.

Not only is it easy to use, but it is also a gem that satisfies all the senses, with its excellent bead fluttering, shining beauty, smooth texture and pleasant sound.The more than 100 manufacturing processes are divided into separate operations, each carried out by hand by highly skilled specialists.

The main operations include: "shaft making", in which bamboo is processed into a string of the correct size; "bead shaving", in which small, uniform beads are made from thick wood; "nakajan assembly", in which the shaft is inserted into the middle pier between the upper and lower sections; "bead-in", in which the beads are inserted into the shaft; "polishing", in which the luster is polished using sandpaper or muku leaves before completion; and other processes such as frame making and assembly.

The craft also includes frame making and assembly, and is a condensation of the skills of the most meticulous artisans.

The Banshu Arithmetic Craft Cooperative also plays a role in environmental conservation in the mountain villages by using thinned wood from local forests and bamboo groves as materials for production.

For Customers

Fun and pop abacuses

The value of abacus has been re-evaluated in recent years, as it is expected to develop children's calculation, judgement and concentration skills, which are essential for their development, and to foster their ability to create and think creatively.

It has also been incorporated into the prevention of dementia in the elderly, as it activates the brain through the use of the hands.

The Banshu abacus, which has a long history as a calculation tool, has evolved in various forms.

Instead of the traditional abacus form, toys have been created that make learning fun while playing.

We have a range of brightly coloured products that are interesting enough to make you want to train over and over again, and that will catch the eyes of infants and toddlers in the developmental stage of their eyesight, as well as the elderly who have difficulty seeing due to age.

We hope you will make use of these products in your daily life.

These colourful and pop abacuses made of natural materials are also a great gift for children's birthdays or for the longevity of a loved one.