See all items of TAKAKURA KOGEI
The Nambu Broom – A Testament to Nature, Craftsmanship, and Japanese Tradition
A Village That Grows Brooms
Nestled in Kunohe Village, Iwate Prefecture, the Nambu Broom is unlike any ordinary broom. What sets it apart is its uniquely “shriveled” tip—a feature born from nature and perfected by hand.
These curled tips allow the broom to reach deep into the crevices of tatami mats and carpets, making it incredibly effective at sweeping away fine dust and debris—even after vacuuming. Many users say they've never experienced a broom that cleans so thoroughly.
At the heart of this creation is Takakura Kogei, a family-run company in Kunohe that grows broomcorn from seed and handcrafts each Nambu Broom with care. We spoke with Mr. Kiyokatsu Takakura, the second-generation president, to learn about how the Nambu Broom came to be—and the philosophy behind its creation.
Mr. Kiyokatsu Takakura
A One-Year Journey to Craft a Broom
The signature “shriveled” tip of the Nambu Broom is not artificial—it’s a gift from the environment. From spring to summer, a cold, moist northeasterly wind known as Yamase blows in from the Sea of Okhotsk. This wind slows the growth of the broomcorn, naturally creating the characteristic curled tips.
The process begins in spring, just after the snow melts. The soil is carefully prepared, and broomcorn seeds are sown by hand to grow in the village’s cool climate. No pesticides are used—farmers instead pick weeds by hand multiple times throughout the season. By the end of summer, the stalks reach up to three meters in height.
Each stalk is harvested one by one, boiled, and thoroughly dried. They are then sorted into 15 categories based on the degree of curl in the bristle tips.
Sorting broomcorn
Washing broomcorn
By winter, the raw materials are finally ready. Skilled artisans then begin the weaving process, intertwining broomcorn and silk threads one by one to produce a broom that is both functional and beautiful. The result is a Nambu Broom that can last more than 20 years—a tool meant to live alongside you for decades.
From “Failures” to a Masterpiece
Takakura Kogei began not as a broom-maker, but as a traditional farming family in Kunohe. For generations, villagers made their own tools. But as life grew more convenient, these practices and the skills behind them began to disappear.
Concerned by this, company founder Tokusaburo Takakura took it upon himself to learn broom-making from scratch. He began cultivating broomcorn and selling handmade brooms during the agricultural off-season to local shops.
At the time, brooms with straight bristles were considered ideal. The “shriveled” bristles were seen as flawed and were set aside. However, rather than discard them, Tokusaburo bundled them into brooms and gifted them to relatives. To his surprise, the feedback was enthusiastic:
It cleans dust out of the carpet better than anything I’ve ever used!
That unintended creation gave birth to what is now known as the Nambu Broom, with its distinctive frizzed bristles—a defining feature of Takakura Kogei’s craftsmanship today.
A Craft That Begins in the Field
Now led by his son, Kiyokatsu Takakura, the company continues to grow and craft Nambu Brooms. Kiyokatsu originally studied agriculture, with no intention of becoming a broom-maker. After several years of working as a pig farmer, he returned home to help the family business.
At first, I was completely lost,
he says.
I never imagined I’d make brooms.
The elder craftsmen didn’t explain the craft—they made him watch and learn. It took him four to five years just to grasp the basic process, and he says he is still learning to this day.
The Greatest Challenge: Cultivation
Kiyokatsu, who oversees everything from cultivation to sales, says the hardest part is growing the broomcorn.
It depends on the climate. There’s no scientific proof, but we’ve seen that the colder the weather, the better the results.
Even after 28 years, there was only one year when I could say, “Yes, this was perfect.” The rest of the time, I’m constantly worrying: What should I do? How will it go? Every year is a challenge.
He laughs as he says it, but the passion behind his words is unmistakable.
Harvesting broomcorn
From Rural Japan to the World
Recently, Nambu Brooms have started gaining attention overseas, with orders coming in from the United States, France, and Qatar. Kiyokatsu hopes that the beauty and practicality of the Nambu Broom will continue to spread beyond Japan.
There is no real culture of indoor brooms overseas,
he says.
But I think it would be fascinating to share this tool that’s been used in Japan for centuries. And I believe it’s my mission to pass on this broom-making tradition to future generations.
The Nambu Broom, born from Japan’s natural landscape and shaped by human hands, is a traditional craft that gently enriches daily life—both at home and, increasingly, around the world.
Bundling broomcorn
See all items of TAKAKURA KOGEI
