The History and Culture reflected in toothpicks in Japan

In Europe, the toothpick has a relatively young history. It became popular among the aristocracy of the middle ages. In that time, the aristocracy used gold and silver toothpicks that looked just like fish hooks and were kept hanging at their necklaces. Toothpicks were also made to be part of the table setting.

In Asia, the toothpick has its birthplace in India. It was then brought in with Buddhism to China, Korea and then to Japan (in 538 AD). Already at the time of Buddha, Indians used twigs from the neem tree to clean their teeth. As such tree did not grow in China, poplar tree wood was used instead.

The Chinese and Japanese word for poplar is yo and that for branch is ji, hence the name yoji or tsumayoji for "toothpick" in Japanese. In the Nara Period (710-784), the tufted brush was used by Buddhists; in the Heian period (794-1192), by the nobility, and in the Edo period (1603-1867), by the public.

Among the "18 Essential Items" that a Buddhist monk was allowed to possess, the first is the toothpick. It is seen as important for both oral and general bodily health. Even now the use of the toothpick is part of formal Buddhist ceremonies, At Sanju-sangendo Temple in Kyoto, a Buddhist service for toothpicks is held on January 15 every year. The Asakusa Temple in Tokyo holds the same kind of service on June 18 every year.

In Japan in the Edo period, toothpicks were handmade from the spice bush, the kuromoji, and sold at toothpick shops up and down main streets: Asakusa in Tokyo, Shijo in Kyoto, and Dotonbori in Osaka. These shops were portrayed in the ukiyoe, the woodcut prints of the Edo period.

The raw material for these first toothpicks was obtained from Kawachinagano, Osaka. In 1883, two toothpick craftmen were invited to teach their skills in Kawachinagano, and the making of toothpicks become a side job for farming women.

Ever since the introduction of machine-made toothpicks in the beginning of the 20th century by Mr Yoshitaro Inaba, Japanese toothpicks are made out of birch wood. Birch wood is white, has no taste, and is a relatively cheap wood that grows fast. Kawachinagano- city near Osaka in Western Japan became the main toothpick manufacturing area of Japan. Even now it produces 96% of all Japanese toothpicks. Although most cheap toothpicks are produced in China these days, Kawachinagano- city is more active than ever, by refining the art and craftmanship to produce innovative, new triangular-shaped designs of toothpicks, that fit the interdental space and increase both comfort and cleaning effect.

Source: The Japanese Toothpick Gallery, Kawachinagano-city