History of Abacus in Japan
1572 The abacus was first brought to Japanfrom Ming Dynasty China
1592 Lord Toshiie Maeda used an abacus during the Bunroku Civil War at the Hizen Nagoya front. This abacus still exists.
Mouri wrote gWarizan-shoh (Book of Division).
1627 Mitsuyoshi Yoshida wrote "Jinkoki"
which is the oldest existing abacus book.
1727 The Otsu Abacus flourished around this time.
1787 Yoshigoro Murakami, the originator of the Unshu Abacus was born in Unshu Kamedake. (He died in 1876.)
The First Period: Creation of the Unshu Abacus
(An Era of Craftsmanship)
1832 Creation of the oldest existing abacus made by Yoshigoro (He was 46 years of age.)
Josaku Takahashi was born in Yokota. (He
died in 1888.) He significantly improved the Unshu abacus turning lathe.
1841 Asakichi Murakami was born in Yokota. (He
died in 1888.) He was instrumental in establishing the Unshu
Abacus manufacturing industry in the area.
1849 Creation of the first abacus under the name
of "Masaemon" by a second generation
1854 Many private elementary schools were established in the area (especially in Yokota)
The foot lathe (created by Yoshigoro) for planing beads was improved by Josaku Takahashi into a foot lathe with a flywheel.
The Second Period: Creation of the Unshu
Abacus Manufacturing Industry
1872 Elementary school education policy implemented western style math and Japanese style math was no longer taught.
Around this period, Asakichi Murakami created
a hand-turning lathe and started to teach
how to make the abacus to the public. This contributed to a rapid increase in abacus
craftspeople in Yokota.
1875 Manufacturing in Yokota Village (currently the Yokota area)
Number of craftspeople: approximately 20
Number of abacuses being manufactured: 3,000 (annually) (9 abacuses monthly per craftsperson)
Leading craftspeople: Josaku Takahashi and Asakichi Murakami
The founder of Horie Abacus, Gihe Itohara ( 1837 - 1911) came to Yokota from Osaka around this period.
Reishiro Sansei (1851 - 1919) brought tropical
hardwoods to Yokota.
1879 A village office was established.
The Third Period: Beginning of the sale of
the Unshu Abacus. The method of Unshu Abacus manufacturing
sparked the start of manufacturing reform in Banshu.
1887 A nationwide land inspection was started throughout Japan
Selling of the abacus was spread to Western Japan by Sashimi merchants (currently Koryo Village, Hikawa-gun, Shimane Prefecture) and the Unshu Abacus gained a good reputation.
1889 Enforcement of the Local Government Act:
Establishment of many banks and companies
1890 Elementary school education policy took up use of both the abacus and written calculation in math.
Teizo Ueda (1871 ? 1928) brought the Unshu
Abacus manufacturing method to Osaka during this period.
1893 Hisajiro Matsuura (1871 - 1928, the founder
of Tamasando) and Zenjiro Omoso (1863 - 1939)
started dedicated abacus sales.
1902 Hino who went to Osaka from Yokota established Unshudo.
According to statistics published by the local government of Nita-gun, Yokota village (currently the Yokota area) had 14 families producing abacuses for a total of 2,780 abacuses annually (the average of 200 abacuses per family). An abacus cost approximately 40-sen (0.4 yen). Also, KametakaVillage had 4 families producing abacuses for a total of 720 abacuses annually (the average of 200 abacuses per family).
1904 Use of a nationally designated math textbook
(black cover) started.
1907 Yoshimatsu Fujiki (instrumental in reviving interest in the Banshu Abacus) returned to Banshu from Osaka after learning the Unshu Abacus manufacturing method. Banshu flourished.
The Fourth Period: Marketing of the Unshu
Abacus (The marketing policy of the Osaka area is a good example)
1909 Wholesaler Seno started an abacus division
Establishment of the Matsuura Omoso Unshu Abacus Wholesale Co.
Establishment of several Yakumo Abacus wholesalers, such as the Tameemon Horie Yakumo Abacus
Whole Sale Co.
1912 Shinichi Moriwaki started sales in Korea. (He was the first one to do so in the abacus industry.)
The Fifth Period: Unshu craftspeople started
to move to the Osaka area
1915 According to Yokota Village statistics, there were 50 families producing
abacuses for a total of 25,000 abacuses annually.
1916 The Takano Bead Planing Lathe was first tried in Banshu. (This was the start of bead manufacturing by machine)
According to Yokota Village statistics, there were 44 families (56 men
and 43 women) producing abacuses for a total
of 30,000 abacuses annually, which amounted
to 24,000 yen in sales.
1917 The Unshu Abacus Manufacturing Guild, an industrial
guild, was established. (Both wholesalers and craftspeople were involved)
1919 A place to teach the manufacturing method of the abacus was established by the Unshu Abacus Manufacturing Guild.
A sawmill using water wheel power was built.
1921 Use of daytime electricity became possible
and the original models of most machines
that are currently used were installed. Also, the Kanzaki Bead Planing Machine had already
been invented by this time.
1928 The first abacus proficiency test and competition
was held in Tokyo
1937 The Ministry of Education decided to use four beads.
Foundation of the Unshu Abacus Commercial and Industrial Association
1938 The nationally designated elementary school
math textbook (green cover) for grade 4 (vol.
2) included study of the abacus as compulsory material.
1942 Study of the abacus became compulsory in elementary school grade three math textbooks (blue cover).
The Sixth Period: Development Period, Machine
and factory production
1946 The start of production of special quality abacuses. Seven abacus craftspeople were selected. (They were called the Unshu 7)
1955 Establishment of various unions. Active development of manufacturing machines.
1960 Establishment of the Unshu Abacus Cooperative Association according to the Cooperative
1961 Registration of the "Unshu Abacus" logo
1968 The Inyo (Western Japan) Abacus Competition
1982 The Unshu Abacus was officially named as
the "Traditional Craft of Shimane Prefecture".
The Inyo Abacus Competition was re-named as the Western Japan Abacus Competition.
1983 Establishment of the Yokota Abacus Cooperative
Association according to the Cooperative
1985 The Unshu Abacus was officially named as
a "Traditional Craft" by the Minister
of International Trade and Industry.