Following on from the first part of the interview, we continue our conversation with Kengo Ishikawa, the second-generation owner of ISHIKAWA clothing brushes .
When asked what she finds so amazing about the brushes her father makes, she replied, "When I think about what makes them different, they're completely different. What he does is truly amazing. He makes them with the customer in mind, so that they are easier to use and last longer. He has a foul mouth (laughs), but he's a kind person, and that comes through in his brushes. I've come to respect him ever since I learned about his brush making."
Please also check out the article about Kazuo, the man who "invented" a clothes brush that is recognized worldwide (Part 1).

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The path I took was one where my father's work and my own circumstances perfectly aligned.

I started helping my father with his work when I was 25 years old. Before that, I was involved in the construction industry, but there was a period when work decreased due to the construction recession, and that's when my father told me, "Our brushes are going to be a hit!" It would be a waste to let the business end with my father's generation, and my father also asked me, "Why don't you give it a try?" so the timing was just right.

I've always enjoyed detailed work since I was little, and I was interested in my father's job, but honestly, after actually trying it myself, I was amazed. My father often says, "A lifelong item is something you can support for a lifetime," and I thought it would be nice to take over his business and take care of the brushes that our customers are using now.

In fact, a customer who had been using our brushes for over ten years contacted us saying, "There's a lot of lint inside the brush," so we took it in for repair. We cleaned the bristles, repaired any damage, and repainted it before returning it to them, but the bristles weren't damaged at all, and they weren't spread out like an old toothbrush. When I saw that, I felt proud of my father's work.

What is the difference between the role of a clothes brush and dry cleaning?

To be honest, I had never brushed clothes before taking over this business.
Because of my own experience, I understand why Japanese people don't pay much attention to clothing brushes. I get a lot of questions from customers about dry cleaning, so I've even gone to a dry cleaner to observe their work, and I think that brushing is best for everyday care, and dry cleaning is best for special stains.

We often get to hear customer feedback directly at demonstrations and other events, and one of the most interesting stories is about shoe brushes. Customers use them differently. Some use them to remove dirt, others for the final finishing touches, and some even use women's makeup puffs to finish their shoes. When I told them about our brushes made with "vicuña wool," they said, "I want one!", so we made some. Hearing such candid feedback from customers is very helpful and gives us valuable insights.

However, having done this job, I don't feel the need to try making brushes for other purposes. I'm researching and experimenting with various ways to improve clothing brushes.

Page 2 | The struggles to recreate the same feel and usability as the brushes my father made.