About Banshu Soroban (Banshu Abacus)
Banshu Soroban are abacuses produced in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture. One of Japan's two major abacus production areas alongside Unshu Soroban (Shimane Prefecture), it remains a leading production center producing the majority of domestically made abacuses today. Production began centered in Ono City from the mid-Edo period, characterized by the precise process of individually hand-finishing each one-unit and five-unit bead and a commitment to ease of use. In recent years, demand has recovered along with a reassessment of abacus learning, and it is attracting attention as a traditional craft supporting Japan's culture of mental arithmetic.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
Materials
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 播州そろばん工房（産地にご確認ください）