The Retirement of The Head Craftsman at Shirokiya Denbei Broom

Shirokiya Denbei is renowned for their beautiful and durable brooms that are crafted by skilled artisans.

One such artisan, Takagi Seiichi, the former Head Craftsman at Shirokiya Denbei Broom, recently retired after more than 60 years of dedicated service. Fortunately, his knowledge and skills have been passed on to his two fellow craftsmen, who will carry on his legacy and the tradition of handcrafted Edo-style brooms.

Takagi-san grew up watching his father, who was also a broom maker, and began helping out with broom-making as a middle school student. He has always strived to improve his craft, even to this day, and the Edo-style brooms he created are considered works of art.

Despite the beauty of his creations, Takagi-san never considered his brooms to be works of art. He believed that they were tools for everyday life and should be used and appreciated as such. Nevertheless, he also felt that his brooms should be treated with care and respect, as they were crafted with great skill and pride.

With Takagi-san’s retirement, the responsibility of producing all of Shirokiya Denbei’s brooms now falls upon his two fellow craftsmen who have years of training under Takagi-san. Thanks to Takagi-san’s mentorship and guidance, they have learned the skills and techniques necessary to continue producing brooms of the highest quality.

This news is a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional artisanal skills, which are increasingly under threat in our modern, fast-paced world. By supporting companies like Shirokiya Denbei Broom, you are helping to keep alive the knowledge and skills of these talented artisans.

We are honored to announce that we have restocked our store with more Edo brooms and Harimi dustpans. These high-quality, handcrafted tools are a testament to the skill and dedication of Takagi-san and his apprentices. We are extremely proud to offer them to our customers.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish Takagi-san a happy and well-deserved retirement, and express our gratitude for his contributions to the art of traditional Japanese broom making.