Kumano brush is a generic name for brushes made in Kumano Town, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture. The history of Kumano brushes is said to date back to the end of the Edo period (1603-1868). In Kumano, where farmland was scarce, many farmers went to the Yoshino region (present-day Nara Prefecture) or the Kishu region (present-day Wakayama Prefecture) during the off-season to work. Gradually, brush making was also practiced in Kumano, and brush making became a full-fledged industry under the technical guidance of those who had mastered the technique.
　In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the demand for brushes increased due to the spread of the education system, and the production volume expanded. In Tokyo, Osaka, and Nara, brush making gradually began to decline with the development of modern industry, but no new industry entered Kumano, and brush making developed as an industry that supported the region. Later, however, when World War II broke out, the working population decreased due to raw materials and the war, and brush making became almost impossible for a time, but in 1958, calligraphy education in schools was restored. The demand for Kumano brushes increased further, as well as for cosmetic and painting brushes. In recent years, the quality of Kumano brushes has been recognized overseas, leading to an increase in OEM contracts with major overseas cosmetics manufacturers and a sharp increase in the production and shipment of cosmetic brushes, and Kumano brushes continue to be loved not only in Japan but around the world.

　Kumano brushes are finished without trimming the tips of the bristles, so the bristles are delicate and have a moderate firmness, which is a major characteristic of Kumano brushes. The manufacturing process involves about 70 steps, and the raw materials used are animal hair from goats, horses, deer, raccoon dogs, weasels, cats, pigs, and other animals. The most important process of brush making is the process of selecting and mixing the materials according to the properties of the brushes. The careful craftsmanship of the artisans who meticulously make each brush by relying on their long-trained eyes and fingertips is what supports this traditional handicraft.

The town of Kumano still has about 90 Kumano brush makers, and about 25,000 of the town's 24,000 residents are involved in brush making, or about one in 10 people.
The Kumano brushes are exported to the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other countries around the world, and are highly trusted by the world's top artists. In 2004, the company obtained a collective trademark, which was rare in Japan at the time, and in 2006, a unified brand mark for Kumano brushes was developed, which is widely publicized as a proof that the products are made in Kumano. Kumano brushes are still loved by people all over the world.