Kuretake Brush JG201-102

The Kuretake JG201-102 is a traditional Japanese round brush with a short bamboo handle and a hair blend of goat, horse, and deer. The medium-length brush tip is soft and pleasantly supple – exactly the balance that enables both flat application and controlled flow. The natural bamboo handle lies light and warm in the hand, and the transition between shaft and hair bundle is tightly wound, giving the brush its characteristically compact character.

Special Features

• Hair blend of goat, horse, and deer: Each hair brings its own qualities. Goat hair stores plenty of color and water, horse hair provides structure and spring-back, deer hair provides suppleness during brush strokes. The interplay creates a tip that releases color evenly while responding flexibly to pressure changes.
• Medium-length brush tip: Short enough for precise placement, long enough for soft transitions. Ideal for coloring limited areas, hatching, and bokashi techniques (soft fading at the edge of a color area).
• High color and water absorption: The dense hair bundle absorbs plenty of gansai color without dripping immediately. Less frequent reloading, more fluid work.
• Soft, yielding tip: Responds sensitively to pressure changes. Light pressure produces fine lines, stronger pressure opens the hair bundle for broader color areas.
• Short bamboo handle: Natural material with light, warm tactile feel. The shorter grip provides precise control close to the painting surface – traditionally preferred in Japanese painting techniques.

Application & Tips

• Gansai watercolor: The JG201-102 is tuned to the consistency of gansai colors. The color distributes velvety and without streaks, wet-in-wet transitions turn out soft.
• Sumi-e and ink: The soft, springy tip is suitable for traditional Japanese ink painting. Pressure variations create the typical alternation between delicate and rich brush strokes.
• Picture postcards (Etegami): For bold outlines and flat coloring in a single brush – exactly the application area for which these kumadori brushes are classically used in Japan.
• Cleaning: After use, thoroughly rinse the brush in lukewarm water and gently stroke the tip into shape. Never store standing in water – wetting the hair bundle from below damages the adhesion at the handle.
• Storage: For transport, secure the bamboo handle with the protective cap (if supplied) or store the brush in a brush bag to keep the tip in shape.

For Calligraphy and Painting Enthusiasts

The hair blend of three animal hair types is a deliberate design decision in Japanese brush manufacturing: pure goat hair would be too soft and would hardly hold a point, pure horse hair too stiff for even color flow. The addition of deer hair combines both properties and provides the characteristic "belly" volume in the hair bundle that swells evenly when filled with color. Kuretake manufactures these brushes in the tradition of Japanese fude production – a craft that has been cultivated since the company's founding in 1902 in Nara.

Technical Data