Koso Hata
The Fourth Master
Date of birth: 11 September, 1987I grew up constantly watching my father at work. Now that I have become a brush craftsman myself, I have begun to understand the many hardships he endured, which only makes me admire and respect him more.
From day one as a professional fude craftsman, I have been trying to master the creation of the goat-hair brush which my father developed using his own unique style. If I start with the most difficult technique, and succeed, I will betray, in a positive way, the traditional idea of fude craftsmanship.
The foundation of brush making has been thoroughly ingrained in me by my father. I still remember vividly the joy I felt when I completed my first brush. What makes me so excited is when my customers tell me that they are extremely happy with the brushes I produce.
In Japan, brush craftspeople are aging quickly. I am one of the youngest. For the Kawajiri fude, in particular, there are few craftspeople of my generation. I want to master all the necessary skills and techniques in order to make the Kawajiri fude a treasured traditional craft, at the earliest possible date. In a sense, I will be able to breathe new life into its craft making. What I ultimately hope to accomplish is to contribute to the development of Japan's traditional culture through the promotion of the Kawajiri fude.
Major Achievements
- 2011
- Produced the world’s first cosmetic brush using Kawajiri fude's traditional techniques in partnership with a makeup artist.
- 2012
- An article related to the above project ran in the Chugoku Shimbun, the largest newspaper in the district.
- 2018
- Articles in Life Magazine, a monthly publication by Shanghai Modern Media, and Mitsui Home Eye, a quarterly magazine published by Mitsui Home.
- 2019
- Demonstration of fude making at ESPACE DENSAN, Paris, France.
Published in the French art magazine "Lumières Internationles Magazine".
Introduced in "Kure Wonderland Journey" on RCC TV in Japan.
- 2020
- Introduced on CS Discovery Channel's "Gateway to Tomorrow" (5 weeks in a row).
Featured in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Japan as a Kawajiri brush craftsman.
Featured in "at home TIME", a monthly magazine.
Broadcasted on Asahi Broadcasting Corporation's ABC program "Isshi Soden: The Heart of an Artisan Inherited".
Second event at Maison WA, 1st arrondissement, Paris, France
Yoshiyuki Hata
The Third Master
The First designated traditional craftsperson of Kawajiri fude (brush)
Date of birth: 3 February, 1951
