Watercolors

Watercolors絵具

Colors of Japan Woven by the Five Senses

Ueba Eso, Japan's Oldest Pigment Shop
Since its establishment in 1751, Ueba Eso, Japan's oldest pigment shop, has been situated in Kyoto's Tōrō-cho area for approximately 270 years. Our skilled artisans continue to pursue the handcrafted, delicate and beautiful colors of Japan.

History

Edo Period,the first year of the Hōreki era (1751)

First Generation Founder

The first-generation founder, Enoguya Sobei, established the pigment business in Tōrō-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City. During that time, popular painters like Ito Jakuchu and Maruyama Okyo were active in Kyoto. It was an era when Japanese painting blossomed, enjoyed by people from all walks of life. It was amongst this artistic flourishing that Ueba Eso began its journey.
Meiji Period

Fifth Generation Head

During the fifth-generation head's era, solid pigments known as gansai were devised.
Taisho Period,the first year of the Taisho era (1912)

Sixth Generation Head

Under the leadership of the sixth-generation head, Ueba Shotaro established a factory in the southern part of Kyoto, Rakunan. This factory produced almost all the pigments used in Japan for Japanese painting, design, and crafts. During the Taisho era, the spirit of "Taisho Roman" bloomed, and art pieces were influenced by the art nouveau and art deco styles. The current trademark of Ueba Eso, the design of the "White Fox" ("Byakko"), is said to have been conceived by the sixth-generation head.
Early Showa Period

Seventh Generation Head

During the wartime, the supply of raw materials from overseas was cut off. The seventh-generation head, Ueba Shozaemon, devised a new type of rock pigment (artificial rock pigment) to replace the unavailable natural minerals with domestically produced artificial stones.
Heisei Period, the first year of the Heisei era (1989)

Tenth Generation Head

Along with the general shrinking of the art market, the environment surrounding Japanese painting became increasingly more challenging, and the number of artists decreased. In order to preserve the traditional techniques and colors, we ventured into new industries separate from traditional pigments. In 2010, we developed a water-soluble nail polish called "Gofun Nail" using gofun, a natural material used as a raw material for pigments. Since then, we have continued to develop a diverse range of "Gofun Cosmetics," such as "Gofun Soap," "Medical Hand Moisture Gel MIZUMIZU," and "Kyohanamai," all made with gofun, and delivering products to everyone.

Watercolors Lineup

Product Concepts

The Beginning: "Gofun Industry"

In 1751, the first generation, Enoguya Sobei, started the "Gofun Industry" and has been engaged in the manufacturing and wholesale of traditional Japanese pigments for over 270 years. Gofun is an essential white pigment used in Japanese paintings, meticulously created through a long and intricate process. It is not only used in paintings but also for the base of wood carvings, protecting wooden materials in construction, as an undercoat for vibrant colors, and in signboard lettering. It serves various purposes, such as protecting paper, silk, and wood from weathering, mold, preventing cracks, and enhancing the surface for a smooth finish.
Artisan Sensibility and Handcrafted Excellence

Over the ages renowned craftsmen have utilized the pure water of Kyoto, well-known for its artistic and craft tradition, in the traditional water-flying method used for creating gofun, mineral pigments (iwa-enogu) and powdered paint (suihi-enogu). Instead of relying on machines, our highly skilled artisans employ their keen senses and artistic sensibility in manual labor to produce top-quality, uniform pigments. Professional artists often praise Ueba Eso's pigments, noting how much of a difference they make in brushwork.
Traditional Colors of Japan

Defying the trends of modern simplicity and mechanization, we have kept the art of handcrafting, upholding history, tradition, and maintaining our reputation for meticulous work that never compromises quality. By continuing to create delicate Japanese colors through dedicated craftsmanship, we safeguard the beautiful traditional colors and techniques of Japan, even in an age of digitalization in the art world. Offering a selection of 1200 colors and 700 art materials, we deliver the traditional and refined colors of Japan, from the historic location of Kyoto's Tōrō-cho in the Shimogyo-ku, to future generations.
Trademark: "Byakko Mark" (White Fox Mark)

The trademark of Ueba Eso is the "Byakko" (white fox), a design believed to have been created by the sixth generation head during the Taisho period which has a somewhat modern atmosphere influenced by the art nouveau trend of its time. This elegant "White Fox" design adorns the packaging of the signature "Gofun" and "Gofun Nail" products and has been cherished by everyone for over 100 years.

Lineup

Gofun (Japanese White Pigment)

Gofun has been a cherished product of Ueba Eso since its founding, widely used by many individuals. Gofun is an essential white pigment in Japanese paintings, derived from scallop shells. It finds extensive use for raising surfaces, undercoating, and blending to create subtle colors. Moreover, it is employed in the creation of dolls, masks, architecture, and signboards, while the vibrant colors of places like Nikko Toshogu Shrine stand out distinctly due to the underlying white gofun.

The distinctive feature of Ueba Eso's gofun lies in its elasticity or viscosity. Unlike chemically synthesized white pigments, it exhibits a three-dimensional quality with thickness. When blended with other colors it also possess a soft and mellow tone. When viewing the completed artwork from a distance, the colors stand out even more prominently.

[Grade]

● Gofun (White pigment) is derived from scallop shells with 7 grades in total: Tobikiri, Hakuhou, Kotobuki, Shirayuki, Shirahana, Funmatsu Gofun, Yuki-jirushi
The purity of the white varies depends on the grade.

● Gofun is made from different materials of which there are 2 types
Titanium Gofun
Contains the pigment "Titanium White" and exhibits unique coloration
Raised Mineral Gofun
Used to create embossed effects on the surface of paintings

[Forms]

Flakes, Powder
No fixing agent is included. Mix it with glue or other mediums before use.

[Recommended Uses]

・To achieve beautiful whiteness
・To enhance the brilliance of colors
・To create a three-dimensional texture on the surface

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Suihi-enogu (Powdered Paint)

Ueba Eso's suihi-enogu is made from high-quality pigments and minerals that are pure and resistant to fading. With extremely fine particles, it has excellent spreadability, allowing for the expression of various shades and tones. It also has good compatibility with resin solutions, making it a versatile material for adding color to handcrafted items.

[Number of Colors]

59 colors in total

[Form]

Powder
No fixing agent is included. Dissolve it in glue or resin solution before use.

[Recommended Uses]

・When you want to use the beautiful colors of traditional Japan
・When you want to create accessories using resin solutions

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Bou-enogu (Stick Paint)

Bou-enogu, also known as solid paint sticks, were used for coloring ukiyo-e prints and ema (votive tablets) in the late Edo period. Similar to sumi ink sticks, they are made by kneading pigments and glue, then shaping them into stick form. Simply add a small amount of water to a dish, rub the stick agaisnt it to dissolve some paint, and it's ready to use. They have gained popularity in recent years and are widely used both in Japan and overseas. Bou-enogu has good compatibility with suihi-enogu (powdered paint) and is sometimes used in combination for blending purposes after coloring with suihi-enogu.

[Number of Colors]

Regular: 12 colors in total
Special Edition: 13 colors in total

[Form]

Solid sticks (typically dissolved in water before use)

[Recommended Uses]

・When you want to try using traditional Japanese paint easily
・As a souvenir to take abroad
Gansai(Solid Watercolors) and Teppachi(Solid Watercolors Large Size)

Gansai is a solid paint made with premium pigments specifically designed for Japanese painting. It is prepared by mixing the pigments with a binder and natural high-quality starch. Gansai is stored in small square containers, while teppachi refers to the same paint placed in a round palette. When lightly brushed with a damp brush, the paint dissolves and saturates the bristles, allowing you to directly use it by transferring to a small dish or palette. The "Gansai" and "Teppachi" from Ueba Esou offer a wide range of colors, including those traditionally favored, and are known for their ease of blending.

[Number of Colors]

Gansai (Solid Watercolors): 40 colors in total
Teppachi (Solid Watercolors Large Size): 40 colors in total

[Form]

Solid (typically dissolved in water before use)

[Recommended Uses]

・When you want to easily try using traditional Japanese paint
・When you want to carry paint with you for convenience

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Tube Paint

Our Tube Paint is a versatile product that can be used for both transparent and opaque techniques. It features vibrant colors created with high-quality pigments specifically chosen for their resistance to fading, making them perfect for Japanese-style painting. The particles are finely ground and uniformly dispersed, ensuring ease of application and optimal blending.

[Number of Colors]

32 colors in total

[Form]

Paste-like consistency (typically used as is or diluted with water)

[Recommended Uses]

Ideal for those who want to explore Japanese-style painting in a convenient and accessible way.

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Nikawa (Glue)

Glue, known as nikawa in Japanese, is an indispensable adhesive used to fix materials such as gofun (white pigment), iwa-enogu (mineral pigments), suibokuga (ink wash painting), shu (vermilion), and pigments to the painting surface. At Ueba Eso, our "Nikawa" product has been highly praised by repeat customers for its ability to enhance color vibrancy and allow for beautiful finishes.

[Types]

2 types in total

[Forms]

Granular, Liquid

[Recommended Uses]

Ideal for those who want to use gofun or suibokuga.

Note: Not all our products are available for direct purchase on the website. Please visit retail stores to purchase them.
Honshu (Vermilion)

Honshu is a synthetic pigment that resembles traditional vermilion, with a slightly yellowish red color. It is a man-made compound of mercury and sulfur, and different variations of color are achieved through variations in their proportions. It has a property of repelling moisture, so it is recommended to gradually add and dissolve it while mixing with adhesive materials.

[Number of Colors]

5 colors in total

[Form]

Powder

[Recommended Uses]

Ideal for expressing a distinctive red color.

Note: Due to the need for strict handling precautions, we only engage in bulk discussions with business partners.
Iwa-enogu (Mineral Pigments)

We meticulously manufacture mineral pigments primarily through manual labor, with great attention and research conducted by experienced and skilled artisans. At Ueba Esou, we offer natural, synthetic, and shinsai (newly developed) mineral pigments. These pigments have a gradation in particle size, with larger particles similar to watercolor pigments. This results in deeper and more vibrant colors, allowing for the expression of unique and beautiful tones.
Shinsai mineral pigments are created by mixing dyes and pigments into a paste, which may result in certain colors having a higher solubility in adhesive solutions. In such cases, we recommend dissolving the pigments in water first, discarding the water, and then mixing the remaining paste with the adhesive solution for better usage.

[Number of Colors]

Shinsai Mineral Pigments: 54 colors
Synthetic Mineral Pigments: 36 colors
Natural Mineral Pigments: 11 colors

[Form]

Powder form (typically dissolved in adhesive solutions)

[Recommended Uses]

Ideal for using beautiful colors traditionally found in Japanese art.
Perfect for those seeking to use high-quality traditional pigments.

Note: Not all our products are available for purchase on the website. Please visit retail stores for purchasing.