traditional toothbrush made from a frayed willow twig
Historical term for an Edo-period toothbrush: a willow stick with one end beaten into a brush-like tuft. Used with tooth-blackening powder or plain water.
In the Edo period, people brushed their teeth with a fusayōji.
A fusayōji is on display at the museum.
Modern toothbrush; 房楊枝 is its historical predecessor made from a twig.
Toothpick; 房楊枝 is a specific type of 楊枝 with a frayed end for brushing.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical toothbrush.
Alternate kanji spelling; 総 can also mean 'tassel' or 'tuft', fitting the frayed end.
Compound of 房 (ふさ, 'tassel, tuft') and 楊枝 (ようじ, 'toothpick'), referring to the frayed, brush-like end of the twig.