別府つげ工芸

つげ櫛

<h1>樹齢60余年の薩摩つげに技を宿した櫛
</h1>
<paragraph>大分県別府市で大正8年創業の別府つげ工芸。<br />
かつては櫛やかんざしや根付などを中心に制作していましたが、洋装文化の普及に伴う需要の変化を受けて現在は「つげブラシ」に特化しています。 </paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/38edc5f0-e2a5-43ff-a8ef-a3a3a3420530-tsirKi8KbbRvVyp05u9XJexFJWHSwG.jpg' caption='別府つげ工芸の工房。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/14ec498a-0401-446a-8434-7233389bb415-T6zV3PDf3zNpOfyD3NUlhwWjlpYCdy.jpg' caption='工房入口のギャラリー。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/ea0e4d87-392a-4692-888e-7f35df7a6b4c-EVKfbRiaBGzpEgo4ECksuiF0BBTEE9.jpg' caption='取材を受けてくださった安藤賀子さん。'></photo>
<paragraph>原材料の薩摩つげは成長が遅いのが特徴で、植えてから5年以上でもわずか小指ほどのサイズ。福岡の古処山では天然記念物になっており一切伐採できないほど非常に貴重な素材です。別府つげ工芸では、樹齢60年以上の時に育まれた木目の細かさと粘り強さ持つ、しなやかなつげの木材を使用。さらに、熊本県玉名産の天然椿油を染み込ませることで、木目から椿油がじんわり滲み出し、使うたびに潤いを与え艶のある髪に導きます。冬場は厄介な枝毛や切れ毛を引き起こす静電気を防ぎ、梅雨の時期には髪の広がりを抑えてくれる頼もしい味方です。<br />
「時代は変わっても、つげの良さは変わらない」という信念のもと、現代に合わせた形でつげの魅力を届けています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/147af93e-3f53-4609-bd69-066b18b193b3-c9uUAxnUqHXsrbTUNLX3X6a7u4ly6w.jpg' caption='つげブラシの素材であるつげの木材。 '></photo>
<h1>0.1mm以下に向きあう精緻な技</h1>
<paragraph>別府つげ工芸のブラシ制作は、まずつげの木の皮を剥いて、カットするところから始まります。樹齢が高く木目が詰まっている硬いつげは、切ると「キン」という特徴的な高音が響きます。自然素材なので、それぞれの節や木目をみながら、使える部分、使えない部分を全て目視で確認しながらの作業です。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/a1dc7ee7-83da-4f33-8dc3-5aea8823719c-vIsbLdugeElglXMPrWfdqrf4LMgjam.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/2e5ad7bb-803c-405e-a8dc-027f83ed5396-NRID8gSbcwqQpKoCdFa4xXj0GH5Uje.jpg'></photo>
<paragraph>ブラシの歯は円柱状の木から先端を少し細く、丸くして1本ずつ形を整えます。型はなく全て手作業で、職人の感覚と目だけを頼りに、髪に入り込みやすいよう先端にわずかなカーブをつけていきます。<br />
『ブラシの歯先の形によって髪をといた時のあたり心地が全く変わってきます。少しでもズレると全く出来上がりが変わってしまうので、かなり神経を使って作らないといけない工程です。』と語る安藤さん。木材は湿気や気温で膨張・収縮するため、歯を背板に刺していく際にも、0.1ミリよりも細かい単位での調整を求められます。自然のものならではの色味や太さの違いを見極め、使い勝手と共に見た目の良さも追求しています。精密さを極めた職人技の連なのです。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/4c7eb17c-43bd-4c8f-bb71-12f94c324534-kSoQhrh9qHhUZzbE63vUu1DNUb19We.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/56ae271e-52c5-487f-b20d-a7d38e9241df-5CWH3u0xquU2rQRYd4Vxp7H9PFpSKQ.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/860f2e27-d2a4-4958-9240-45cc3a33a3f3-NspHEWWkPW787C0vWecp4IdLR6lI5D.jpg' caption='左：整える前のブラシの歯。　中央：先端を細くする。　右：最後に頭皮に当たる部分を丸くする。'></photo>
<paragraph>日々の製作での発見やお客様の要望に応え改良が重ねられ、この20年でブラシの歯は進化しました。これまでよりも更に、今はひとつひとつ丁寧に質を上げて作っていこうという思いがあり、時間がかかっても手間がかかっても使いやすいものを作ろうという精神の元、改良を続けています。』と安藤さん。削りすぎれば後戻りできないため、理想の最終地点を常に意識した細部にわたる計算と職人の精緻な技が不可欠です。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/9db7a260-5a40-433a-99da-1625ca03da9a-3EiAgbDU6LHE158AMHqUWWCwvAsFn7.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/66be553b-6bfc-4433-af4b-ca9591dc4d75-yytOFiM8wVcKqJtID4rgDnsmZo4uwz.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/0c06dd03-30a2-4214-b1a4-8dc20e381452-aeBgswBW58pg4h4lXQynAjOd5dSqEw.jpg' caption='歯をブラシの背に差し込む工程。木によって色味や太さが微妙に異なるので、全体の見た目がチグハグにならいようにバランスを考えて差し込んでいく。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/1870ec6a-6ec4-4285-9e70-0f98935c143a-2VHTXr70sOpCcIf4bWyGRsWGXqNuUN.jpg' caption='最後に歯を差し終えたブラシを椿油に2回つけ込む。椿油につけることで汚れ防止になる他、触り心地や色味も変化する。'></photo>
<h1>美しい髪に導く使い手のための1本</h1>
<paragraph>英語教師や飲食業など全く異なる世界から結婚を機に工房に入った安藤さん。初めて目にしたつげブラシづくりは、「こんなに手間がかかるのか」と衝撃を受けたそうです。工房に入るまで馴染みがなかったからこそ客観的な視点で、つげブラシの良さを捉えられると言います。<br />
『使えば使うほど変わっていく色や艶、深みに知らなかったからこそ心を動かされています。感動を自分自身が新鮮に感じられるからこそ皆さんにお伝えできると思います。』と安藤さん。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/9c83df83-06b2-48a6-976f-8911c291733a-fx1wk1yCK6mGlGZdkh08GwNtHl3OVv.jpg' caption='つげの木材からブラシが出来上がるまでの過程。'></photo>
<paragraph>つげは、万葉の時代から使われ続けてきた素材で、現代まで残っているということは、確かな価値がある証です。かつて別府には多くのつげ工房があったものの、今では高齢化などによりわずか数軒に。続けていくことの難しさを感じながらも、残していきたいという原動力になっています。<br />
別府つげ工芸では頭の形に沿いやすくするために歯の角度を扇状に広げたり、握力が弱い方のために柄の形を変えたりと、お客様の声に耳を傾け、職人と共に改良を重ね、使う方のことを第一に考えたもの作りを心がけています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/9a199450-303b-4e65-97cb-dd35f188116d-h9JujcmJYzWteZ3uuXm2y4C1j7KgSS.jpg' caption='歯の角度を扇状に広げたブラシ。'></photo>
<paragraph>薩摩つげに椿油を染み込ませたブラシは、使うたびに髪に自然な艶を纏うことができ、切れ毛や乾燥が気になる方、雨の日に髪が広がってしまう方にも、それぞれの悩みに寄り添う1本になってくれることでしょう。<br />
時間とともに、色が深まり、艶が増し、手に馴染んでゆく。使い手とともに歳月を重ねていくつげの美しさを、日々の暮らしの中で、感じてみませんか。</paragraph>

<h1>A Comb that Embodies the Craft of 60-Year-Old Satsuma Boxwood</h1>
<paragraph>Founded in 1919 in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Beppu Tsuge Kogei has a long history of working with boxwood. Once known for making combs, hairpins, and netsuke, the workshop has shifted with the times. Today, in response to the spread of Western dress culture, it specializes in the making of “tsuge brushes.”</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/d747eff3-3d44-4196-9b4b-faa955ab92c8-5KQsd6Rl5ES00TgATLOwoIHDfh4CMR.jpg' caption='The workshop of Beppu Tsuge Kogei.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/2708c0d0-7bd0-454d-84b8-0a5ed8ef4a80-2N79YyRR1T1f1hSvbeQRiuPalhQzEb.jpg' caption='The gallery at the entrance of the workshop.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/d03bc6ec-d3df-4352-a0c5-5d6b7cf42cf9-1Dq8aiehS6FrWKfkx0yYTzYiI2gZZm.jpg' caption='Ms. Kako Ando, who was interviewed.'></photo>
<paragraph>The raw material, Satsuma boxwood, is extraordinarily slow-growing. Even after five years, a tree may be no thicker than a little finger. In places like Mt. Kosho in Fukuoka, it is so rare that it has been designated a Natural Monument and cannot be cut. At Beppu Tsuge Kogei, only boxwood aged over 60 years—prized for its fine grain, flexibility, and resilience—is used. Each brush is further infused with natural camellia oil from Tamana in Kumamoto. Over time, the oil gently seeps out from the wood, nourishing the hair with every use, leaving it smooth and lustrous. In winter, it prevents static electricity that causes split ends and breakage, while in the humid rainy season, it helps control frizz.<br /><br />

Guided by the belief that “times may change, but the value of tsuge remains the same,” the workshop continues to share the enduring appeal of boxwood in forms suited to modern life.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/3eac93e6-f5ba-4660-8b08-a40d093f9948-Uq7wu1Fw1fdB3ExLAbZd90oDGmm6UF.jpg' caption='The boxwood used as the material for the boxwood brushes.'></photo>
<h1>Precision that Works in Increments Smaller than 0.1 mm</h1>
<paragraph>The making of a tsuge brush begins with peeling and cutting the boxwood. Because the wood is so dense, cutting it produces a distinctive, high-pitched “kin” sound. Every knot and grain must be inspected carefully by eye to judge what parts can and cannot be used.<br /><br />

Each tooth of the brush is shaped one by one, tapering slightly at the tip and rounded for comfort. There are no molds; the process relies solely on the craftsman’s skill and eye, giving each tooth a subtle curve that allows it to glide smoothly through the hair.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>“The slightest difference in the tip of the tooth changes how it feels against the scalp,” explains Mr. Ando. “Even the smallest deviation can ruin the result, so every step requires extreme care.” Because wood naturally expands and contracts with humidity and temperature, inserting the teeth into the backplate demands adjustments finer than 0.1 mm. The craftsman’s pursuit of functionality and beauty extends to the tiniest details, making each brush a product of precision and mastery.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/7de60eb7-d018-4eab-ba38-a40f5b0f7c1d-QGAAN2rH8FmAV5O31RRqkMhOjMYNET.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/55edd169-6d32-42be-9648-e6158efd5224-QdGUhDmQnDIZLzeDrQPAFvh1F9nWpv.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/cf495339-d6f7-414d-935f-885cb47841f6-FG2hfkKBX1Kkbhn0lROwl6YKMpeO0h.jpg' caption='Left: The teeth of the brush before being shaped. Center: The tips are thinned. Right: Finally, the part that touches the scalp is rounded.'></photo>
<paragraph>Over the past 20 years, improvements have been made in response to discoveries during production and feedback from customers. “Now, more than ever, we want to raise the quality of each brush. Even if it takes more time and effort, our goal is to create something that is truly comfortable to use,” says Ando. Achieving this requires delicate calculations, steady hands, and unwavering attention to the ideal final form—because with boxwood, once too much is shaved away, there is no going back.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/4e2b3dc0-968a-4cae-b13a-77559a09d80f-WAJQgvg4RhoFUMsQ2sm6r5k0H0Cxuj.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/a4bcd215-ee03-48ae-b324-c17994cd7d0e-ujkrZlvKIkoWrJaSISfbvN9C7BbtUF.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/7770f361-f0bb-4e8c-b7b3-9c2bf396f4db-g2k3Va3WPXMQx2tM6Cm2A1VO2kN1TK.jpg' caption='The process of inserting the teeth into the back of the brush. Since the color and thickness of the wood vary slightly, the teeth are inserted with a consideration for balance to ensure a cohesive overall appearance.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/2adc4ac9-5cda-4f5c-b045-5deb718a93ac-c8zRXTZ3F3nKBuubJ7BWPnNYTvRMLv.jpg' caption='Finally, the brush, with all its teeth inserted, is soaked twice in camellia oil.[1] Soaking it in camellia oil not only prevents dirt but also changes its texture and color.'></photo>
<h1>A Brush Made for Beautiful Hair—and for Its User.</h1>
<paragraph>Ando, who joined the workshop after marriage, had previously worked in completely different fields such as teaching English and the restaurant business. Seeing tsuge brush-making for the first time, she recalls being shocked: “I never realized just how much work went into a single brush.”<br /><br />

Because she came in without preconceptions, she feels she can appreciate the value of tsuge brushes with fresh eyes. “Watching the way the color and luster deepen the more you use it—it moves me, precisely because I didn’t know it before. That sense of wonder is what I want to share with others.”</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/fb9939a8-9194-44c9-b478-0deca6a20212-eeabeRG8lZEWxqBAR40ofC5y0Ubia4.jpg' caption='The process of making a brush from boxwood.'></photo>
<paragraph>Boxwood has been used since the Manyo era (8th century), and the fact that it continues to be cherished today is proof of its timeless worth. While Beppu was once home to many tsuge workshops, only a handful remain today, as aging craftsmen retire. The difficulty of carrying on the tradition is real, yet it also fuels the determination to preserve it.<br /><br />

At Beppu Tsuge Kogei, customer needs are always at the center. The teeth of the brush are arranged in a fan shape to follow the curve of the head, and handles are redesigned for those with weaker grip strength. By listening closely to users and refining the craft together with artisans, the workshop creates brushes made with people in mind.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/98e8a5c2-d691-48f7-a7da-4b9ec586bd15-r41q16V1x0LPKETMDuTOtFdYCI9UiZ.jpeg' caption='A brush with its teeth spread out in a fan shape.'></photo>
<paragraph>Infused with camellia oil, each Satsuma boxwood brush adds natural shine with every stroke, supporting those troubled by split ends, dryness, or frizz on rainy days. Over time, its color deepens, its luster grows, and it molds itself to your hand.<br /><br />

A tsuge brush ages gracefully with its user, becoming more beautiful with the years. Why not welcome that quiet elegance into your daily life?<br />

Reporting by Takuya ArataPhotography by Daiki MorishitaWritten by Emiko Shimono</paragraph>

大正8年創業の別府つげ工芸は、貴重な薩摩つげを用い、職人の手仕事で精緻に作られる「つげブラシ」を製造。椿油を染み込ませ、髪に潤いと艶を与える逸品は、使い手と共に育つ美しさが魅力です。伝統を守りつつ現代に寄り添うものづくりを続けています。

Founded in 1919, Beppu Tsuge Kogei specializes in crafting exquisite tsuge brushes made from precious Satsuma boxwood. Each brush is meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans and infused with camellia oil, bringing moisture and luster to the hair. These exceptional pieces grow in beauty as they are used, reflecting a unique bond with their owner. While preserving tradition, Beppu Tsuge Kogei continues to create products that harmonize with modern life.