Video Review: "Why The World’s Best Mathematicians Are Hoarding Chalk" By Great Big Story

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Although I’m not a mathematician, I’ve found comfort in using Hagoromo chalk, a Japanese-made product. It strikes a balance between smoothness and grip—neither too slippery nor too resistant. Erasing is effortless, and it produces minimal dust. Remarkably, it doesn’t break while writing. The colors are elegant, reminiscent of pastel paintings.

In a video clip, an American mathematician recounts how he discovered this exceptional chalk. During a visit to Japan, someone informed him about a superior alternative to American chalk and invited him to try it out.

 He said

“And so I tried it out and I was surprised to find he was right.”

Other mathematicians:

 “I thought it was phenomenal. It's the densest, it erases the cleanest, it leaves the nicest line.”

“If you use bad chalk often you have to press really hard for anyone to see what you're writing so using Hagoromo on a good board, it doesn't really

feel like you're working hard to write.”

“When I'm teaching I get a feeling of energy, confidence, and the chalk absolutely helps.

“It's impossible to write a false theorem with Hagoromo.”

+++++++++++

In 1932 , a Japanese dentist Shiro Watanabe of Aichi Prefecture founded the “Nihon Chalk Manufacturing Company.” 

After the factory was destroyed during the war, it temporarily closed. In 1947, it was reestablished as “Hagoromo Bungu.” (Hagoromo Stationaries) 

In addition to chalk, they manufactured gypsum, slate pencils, and various types of boards. While they used to produce approximately 45 million chalk pieces annually, accounting for about 30% of the domestic market share, challenges such as declining demand due to the popularity of whiteboards and electronic blackboards, competition from other companies, and a lack of successors led to a decline in revenue and profits from 2011 to 2014.

 Facing these difficulties, the company announced its closure in March 2015, ceasing production on March 20. [2]

After the war, Japan has faced numerous succession issues in its small enterprises. Hagoromo appears one of them. I regret that this company was bought by a foreign company.

[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhNUjg9X4g8&ab_channel=GreatBigStory

[2] https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BE%BD%E8%A1%A3%E6%96%87%E5%85%B7

 

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