Sosaku – Japanese Woodblock Inking Brush – 60mm

Sosaku 60mm Brush for Woodblock Inking

The Sosaku 60mm brush gives you a wider inking tool within Michihamono’s Japanese woodblock printing range. Its horsehair bristles combine a firm body with a soft touch at the tips, and the manufacturer has already prepared the brush tips. It is a practical choice for distributing water-based colour over broader areas of a carved block.

A broader brush for colour and tone

Compared with the smaller Sosaku Hakes, this 60mm brush offers a different working scale. Use it where a broader brush suits your colour area, or when you want to experiment with gentle blending and shaded transitions. Control comes from your colour mixture, moisture and brushing technique; take test impressions to see how these choices appear on paper.

The brush sits in a natural wooden block. Michihamono specifies horsehair and describes a firm brush body with soft tips. This supports colour distribution without requiring you to perform the maker’s initial brush-tip preparation yourself.

Organise the printing process

Mix colour in a separate dish and transfer a small amount to the woodblock. Work it across the intended printing surface before placing your prepared paper and printing with a baren. Add colour gradually, and use each proof to decide whether you need a change in coverage or tone.

Keep a separate brush for contrasting colours where possible. If your design includes both broad backgrounds and compact shapes, pair this brush with a 15mm, 20mm or 24mm Hake. That gives you a choice of working sizes throughout the same print.

Specifications and drying

• Brush size: 60mm.
• Bristles: horsehair.
• Brush block: natural wood.
• Manufacturer code: 82005100.
• Supplied as one brush.

Clean after use and allow the wooden block to dry fully. Michihamono warns that retained moisture can cause the wood to crack and recommends storing the brush with its bristles facing down.