Interesting Hobonichi Techo quote of the day

'In the old days, the underarm hair of rats was used to make brushes for maki-e, Japanese lacquer paintings sprinkled with gold. When the rats run, their arms rub their underarm hair, tapering the ends. Since maki-e involves painting sticky lacquer in thin lines, the brush hairs have to be perfectly tapered. The hair of other animals didn’t work, and even machines can’t replicate the effect.'

Masayuki Murata
director, Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum

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Presumably an artist or brush-maker saw a dead rat lying on its back with its legs in the air and thought ‘those are some fine underarm hairs’. But does this mean free-range rats are required and sedentary lab rats won’t produce the necessary tapering?

Well it did say "in the old days" so presumably they have now found something else that works as well? Hopefully they no longer need a rat-catcher going off to find some free range rats. :)

One would hope modern maki-e doesn’t require rodenticide, though he did say machines can’t replicate the effect.

Maybe they didn't kill the rat. Just pluck and release.

Yes, that makes more sense.

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Originally Posted by Deb

Maybe they didn't kill the rat. Just pluck and release.

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You mean, you've never seen that video of the rat-shearing contest on Okinawa?

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Originally Posted by FredRydr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deb

Maybe they didn't kill the rat. Just pluck and release.

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You mean, you've never seen that video of the rat-shearing contest on Okinawa?

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BIG fan of the Okinawa Rat-shearers ...