The abacus in Ono city
The abacus in Ono city, Hyogo Prefecture, originated during the reign of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
“The history of abacuses in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture”, is said to date back to 1580, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Miki Castle, and residents who fled to the Omi region learned how to make Otsu abacuses and brought them back to Ono City with their acquired skills.
After World War II, the boom of abacus schools led to a growing demand for abacuses.
Currently, the region accounts for about 70% of the nation’s abacus production, and the abacus is also gaining attention and popularity overseas, particularly in the United States and Southeast Asia.