

In Japan, the Tawashi is so ingrained into the culture that sponges that were made of different material were still called Tawashi. The brushes are made really well so if you want to give one a try then look for the orange packet with the turtle on the front. The Kamenoko brand has made Japanese scrubbers for over one hundred years. It comes in an orange packaging with a cute little turtle on the front.īasically the scrubber translates into baby turtle sponge named after Nishio’s son’s pet turtle.

The Kamenoko Tawashi is the most recognized brand of Japanese scrubber. Most likely learning from his previous attempt at making doormats and so Kamenoko Tawashi was born. He was able cleverly attached the fiber to a wire so it could be shaped and wouldn’t come apart easily. It seemed to work well and Nishio discovered that bending the fiber made stronger and water softened the bristles so it was suitable most surfaces without scratching. One day his wife used the material of one of these mats then used it as a scrubber. However his mats were not robust, the bristles flattened after a few uses making them useless to wipe away dirt. Nishio tried his hand at making doormats made from coconut fiber. Like many inventions, it was a bit of an accident. In 1907 a young businessman called Nishio Shouzaemon invented what is now the most famous Tawashi called Kamenoko Tawashi. Source: Wikimedia Commons Today’s version This brush is from the Edo period 1603- 1868.
