The history of Unshu Soroban dates back to around 1832, during the late Edo period. Its origin is attributed to Murakami Kichigoro, a carpenter from Kamedake in present-day Okuizumo, Shimane Prefecture. Inspired by abacuses made in Geishu, present-day Hiroshima, he began making his own using locally available wood and smoked bamboo.

Okuizumo has long been renowned for tatara ironmaking and the production of tamahagane, the high-quality steel traditionally used for Japanese swords. The ready availability of excellent cutting tools made from this steel provided an ideal environment for the precise working of hard woods and is considered one of the reasons abacus making took root in the region.

Murakami worked to improve the quality of the abacus, including developing and refining techniques for shaping beads to a uniform size. His skills were later passed on and further developed by local craftspeople, and Unshu Soroban gradually grew into one of Okuizumo's representative local industries.

During the Meiji period, Unshu Soroban gained wider recognition through exhibitions and other opportunities. It became known throughout Japan for its durability, ease of use, smooth bead movement, and consistently high quality.

Although calculators and computers are now widely used, the soroban remains valued not only as a calculating tool but also as an educational instrument for learning arithmetic and developing concentration. While preserving techniques handed down through generations, craftspeople in Okuizumo continue to produce Unshu Soroban today.

1. 1. Beads production The suitable timber for the abacus beads are chosen and thoroughly dried in preparation for shaping. The texture of timber for the beads should have both firmness and a gentle touch for use with fingers. Timber used for beads is mainly ebony, rosewood, or Japanese box. High craftmanship is needed to cut the hard timber, carve the wood into specially shaped abacus beads, and polish them.
   To start the production, a machine is used to slice the seasoned timber. Then careful shaping is done to carve a final spherical shape out of the rough piece cut out of the wood.
2. 2. Making rods The rods of the basic popular abacus are mainly made from Japanese timber bamboo, while higher grade abacuses use smoke stained bamboo. The bamboo is cut to length, further cut into smaller pieces, and shaped to the beads. A fine polish is given to the beads for ensuring smooth movements.
3. 3. Frame assembling The abacus frame is made from either imported hard ebony or reinforced plywood. The wood is roughly cut to the length and size. Then the roughly shaped pieces are shaped further.
4. 4. Strengthening the frame The upper and lower frame of an abacus are separated by a distinctive wooden crossbeam called a hari, which supports and strengthens the rods and frame structure. First, holes are drilled in the crossbeam and then both sides are planed and finely polished. Then, grooves are routed on both sides of the crossbeam in the preparation for filling with a distinctive white celluloid.
5. 5. Upper and lower frames Holes are drilled on the upper and lower frames for the bead rods. All the parts including the sides are planed to a beautiful finish. Then the frame is strengthened by drilling holes to fit a thicker supportive axle and back rods. After preparing the backboards, the routing grooves are made to mount the backboards and mortises are drilled on the beams. Then the grooves are filled with white celluloid.
   The process moves onto the tenon joints for the assembling of frames. First, all the pieces of the abacus are temporarily assembled and any necessary adjustments are made before the final assembly. Then, the temporary assembled frame is disassembled. The beads are slid onto the rods and all the components are assembled again. The Unshu Abacus uses a technique of drilling the joint holes at strategic locations and inserting aluminum wire pins to further strengthen the integrity of the frame. The completed frame is given a final light sanding and polishing. Unshu Abacuses are renowned not only for their practical and durable construction, but also for the natural beauty of their wood grain.