Let’s break this question down. Japanese calligraphy pens are costly for  four main reasons. Time it takes to make. The hard work it requires, quality bristles. And finally, special order items. Let’s take a look. 

Date of manufacture.

A brush pen is a craft. It takes months to make. This is because a craftsman carefully finishes each piece. Brush makers must separate each imperfect and damaged hair. And it took months to do it. Also, each brush handle is specially designed for a specific purpose. So it took longer. The brush maker has to put the hair together ideally in one go. And it’s all this time-consuming process that makes Japanese calligraphy brush pens so expensive.

The strenuous work it requires.

The second reason is intensive workloads. All bristles should be perfect. And that level of detail will cost you thousands of dollars. Artists must be experienced and well-trained. High-quality, perfect hair must be selected by eye, which is the most challenging task for new brush makers. 

It must be perfect.

Perfect size and straight hair should be cooked and separated. Then remove all imperfect and damaged hair throughout the process because small differences can significantly impact the results your pen delivers. The part of the brush maker – perfection and attention to detail. Then, comb and shape your hair. To keep the brushes durable, they must be shaped significantly. Then burn the bottom of the hair and stick the hair together. Then attach the hair to the handle. Each handle is custom-made for its purpose. And this strenuous work and perfection are what make the brush so valuable.

High-quality brushes.

These bristles are very soft yet durable and hold ink well. So this is perfect for brush making. But they are costly. At Hatabunshindo, it is the only choice for making brushes. However, Japanese calligraphy brush pens are also available for other hair types: horse hair, tanuki hair, wool, etc. The bristles affect the performance and price of the brush. This is because it is the main body of the brush that is used frequently.

Hair must be soft to write smoothly. Writing perfectly also requires flexibility. In addition, durability and adhesion to ink are required. Therefore, the bristles’ quality and performance are of particular importance.