History of writing tools
All traditional writing and calculating tools, including brushes, Sumi ink, and Suzuri inkstones, and Soroban abacuses, originated in China. Brushes, Sumi ink, and Suzuri inkstones started making in Japan in about the 8, 9, 11 centuries respectively. Due to the introduction of Buddhism, the practice of sutra copying became very popular in Japan, which increased in demand for brushes. As a result, brush production spread throughout the country. Later, improvements were added to make brushes suitable for writing characters, such as Kana. Together with literacy education, using brushes became popular among ordinary people. Soroban was introduced in Japan in about the 1570s. Along with the development of Wasan, the native Japanese mathematics in the Edo period (1603–1867), Japanese style abacuses called soroban were created. These abacuses have been passed down until now.