Donut brush | Palm (hard), L

Manufactured in Japan by KAMENOKO-TAWASHI Nishio-Shoten Co. Ltd., a company founded in 1907 with a focus on producing natural, handle-free brushes for daily use. The development of these brushes coincided with the need for cleaning and scrubbing power when soap and detergent were a scarcity in early 20th century Japan. The result is a brush suited exceptionally well to dislodge debris and leftovers. Made from tough natural palm fibers, it is a natural alternative to the never-ending plastic mass offered by most brush manufacturers. It’s the perfect item for kitchen use on vegetables, cast iron pots, or surfaces.

“KAMENOKO”/亀の子 means baby turtle, and tawashi/たわし means brush. Most of the brushes made by Kamenoko Tawashi have the general shape of a little turtle, which is why the first president of the company chose this particular name. Both water and turtles are auspicious things in many Eastern cultures, and they haven’t been wasted in Kamenoko Tawashi’s products or identity either. These brushes highlight a particularly puzzling conundrum in today’s kitchens. Most people keep a pack of artificial sponges under their sinks, both because they are cheap and because they gather bacteria so quickly that they should be replaced often. The reality about their replacement, as well as the straight-to-the-fill nature of those sponges, is less than ideal. Kamenoko brushes are easy to clean and healthier to use than the most popular sponges, and they don’t contribute to single-use plastic waste.