Wajima-nuri

Features of Wajima-nuri

One of the major characteristics of Wajima-nuri is the use of Wajima jinoko (clay powder). Jiko is made by baking clay from Mt. Kobine near Wajima, and its use as the base of Wajima-nuri is one of the major factors that make Wajima-nuri so durable. Another technique unique to Wajima-nuri is the “nunokise” process, in which hemp cloth is applied with lacquer to the outside of the wood or to areas that are vulnerable to damage.

 

Wajima-nuri is particularly attractive because of its meticulous lacquering, which is unparalleled in other areas of Japan, and is made by hand through more than 20 processes and a total of 75-124 times. Wajima-nuri is characterized by the fact that it has enhanced its value as a brand by unifying the use of Hon-kenji, which is both labor-intensive and costly, and by the fact that it has preserved its techniques without placing emphasis on low-priced production.

 

The elegance of Wajima-nuri is created by the beauty of the lacquered surface and the decoration applied to it. The chinkin technique, in particular, is said to have been perfected in Wajima, and many master craftsmen have been trained in Wajima. Living National Treasures of Wajima-nuri include Mae Taiyoho, a native of Wajima City, Kunie Komori, a lacquer craftsman, and Kazuo Yamagishi, a chinkin master.

 

In 1975, Wajima-nuri was designated as a traditional lacquerware by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and on April 25, 1977, it was designated as an important intangible cultural asset by the Japanese government.

Ishikawa Prefecture is proud of its Wajima-nuri lacquerware production area and history

Wajima-nuri is produced in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Located in the northwestern part of the Noto Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Japan, Wajima is a small town with a population of less than 30,000, and has become nationally known for its Wajima-nuri. In addition to Wajima lacquerware, the city is also famous for the Wajima morning market, Gojinjyo drums, and Senmaida rice paddies.

The word “Wajima” first appeared in history in the middle of the Muromachi period (1393-1572). There is a theory that a priest from Negoroji Temple in Kishu came to Wajima Jurenji Temple to manufacture furniture for the temple and introduced lacquer craft techniques, or that a local person went to Negoro to learn the techniques and returned to Wajima.

 

It was during the Edo period that robust undercoating techniques were gradually established and Wajima-nuri became known to the public as a specialty of Noto. Wajima-nuri was basically lacquered in vermilion or black, but under the guidance of Iida Zenshichi, a maki-e artist who came from Owari in 1872, many maki-e artists were born. Then, from the mid-Meiji period to the Taisho period, the image of Wajima-nuri as being luxuriously decorated with chinkin and maki-e became established.

 

The sales of Wajima-nuri was expanded by peddling Wajima-nuri throughout the country, with the lacquerware dealers carrying samples of their products on their backs. Especially in the 18th century, the demand for Wajima-nuri increased dramatically with the addition of sales through a syndicate, and the fame of Wajima-nuri spread as it was transported across the country by Kitamae-bune.

Materials for Wajima Lacquer

Woods such as zelkova and ate (asunaro) are often used for the base materials used in Wajima lacquerware. Zelkova, Mizumezakura and horse chestnut, which are known to take lacquer well, are used for the base materials of bowls and trays, and round objects such as bowls, bowls and plates are turned on a potter’s wheel. Ate, cypress and kiri wood, which are so water-resistant that they are also used as building materials, are used for the base materials of trays and stacked boxes. High-quality ate and cypress are used for curved wooden objects such as round trays and lunch boxes. In this way, Wajima lacquerware uses different types of wood depending on the purpose, carefully examining the characteristics of the wood.

 

 

Raw lacquer is used for the undercoat. Raw lacquer is lacquer that has been obtained by filtering out the majority of impurities from the lacquer liquid extracted from the lacquer tree. Locally produced diatomaceous earth, known in Wajima as jinoko, is powdered and fired to create raw lacquer. Other materials include kokuso urushi, made from rice paste, wood powder, and raw lacquer, and coarse cotton fabric is used for covering cloth, which is used on areas that are easily damaged such as the edges of bowls. High-quality refined lacquer is used for the top coat. Refined lacquer is made by kneading raw lacquer and refining it by removing moisture.
The painted parts are painted with gold and silver powder, mother-of-pearl, and eggshell, while gold leaf and gold powder are used for chinkin.

The production process of Wajima lacquerware

Wajima lacquerware is made using a system of division of labor. The wood is made by a woodcarver, the lacquer is made by a base coater, a middle coater, a polisher, a top coater, and the painting is done by a chinkin artist, a maki-e artist, and a roiro artist, making for a total of 124 steps. The process can be broadly divided into wood, base coat, top coat, roiro, decorative lacquer, chinkin, etc. Here, we will give a rough explanation of the materials used and the process of making Wajima lacquerware.

Wood

The shape of the base varies depending on the purpose of the vessel, and there are different professions that specialize in the techniques that are suitable for each. The most suitable wood is also selected as the material. For the base of a bowl, a potter’s wheel is used to turn round objects such as bowls, bowls, and plates. Materials used include Zelkova and Hansa (Japanese cherry).

Woodworkers use planes, comb sharpeners, and kaigata (a metal mould) to shape the wood. In particular, the planes used for the tools are all made by the bowl woodworkers themselves using blacksmithing tools. In particular, the zelkova trees used for the bowl woodwork are said to be over 100 years old. In this way, only carefully selected materials are used, even for the woodwork of Wajima lacquerware.

Base

The most fragile parts of the wood are covered with cloth using lacquer, and the base lacquer is made by mixing locally produced diatomaceous earth, known in Wajima as jinoko, which has been powdered and fired. The paste-like lacquer is applied and polished, then applied and polished again, repeatedly, to flesh out the base and give it shape. The base coat is used to correct seams and knots in the wood, reinforce parts that are easily damaged, and create a strong, dense coating, while at the same time shaping the delicate shape and form of the vessel. Tools used include a cutting board (workbench), dream shelf, lacquerer’s knife, inner plane, outer plane, floor plane, and spatula. For sharpening, a potter’s wheel, rough whetstones, ground whetstones, and waterproof abrasive paper are used.

Finish

For the top coat, high-quality refined lacquer is applied with a brush in several coats. Dust is extremely averse, so the work is carried out with the utmost care. Any fine dust that accumulates during the work is brushed off with a dust brush, and an appropriate amount of lacquer is roughly applied with a pass brush, before being finished with a finishing brush. The piece is dried by turning it over in a rotating bath to prevent the lacquer from dripping. Top coat craftsmen’s skill, backed by their technique and experience, is able to use a variety of lacquers, each with its own different properties, and mix the lacquers to always obtain the optimal coating depending on the season and weather conditions.

Among the topcoaters is Hiroshi Nakakado, who specializes in Akebono lacquering. Nakakado is a developer of unique color gradations while preserving the traditional techniques of Wajima lacquering. He creates original works using rare colored lacquer such as pink and blue.

 

Nuri-tate and Roiro

There are two main types of lacquer finish: Nuri-tate and Roiro. Nuri-tate not only has a reflective surface, but also has a moist feel with little shine. In the world of tea ceremony, black Nuri-tate is called Shin-nuri and is considered to be of a higher rank. While Nuri-tate makes use of the surface of the top coat as is, Roiro involves grinding the surface of the top coat smooth with special grinding charcoal, and repeatedly polishing it while rubbing lacquer into it. Finally, it is polished by soft hands, bringing out the deep and lustrous texture unique to lacquer. Most maki-e works are finished in this way. The luster of both Nuri-tate and Roiro increases with continued use, and the more you use it, the more you will grow attached to it and the more its texture and value will increase.

Kashoku

Wajima lacquerware decoration is characterized by beautiful techniques such as maki-e and chinkin. Adding color adds new appeal to lacquerware. Here we will explain the difference between maki-e and chinkin.

◇Makie

Makie is a technique in which a paint brush is used to paint a picture in lacquer, and then gold leaf, gold powder, silver powder, or mother of pearl is sprinkled on the painted surface to add decoration. There are a variety of expressions using techniques such as Hira Makie, Togidashi Makie, and Taka Makie. Makie artisans also work with other techniques such as Raden, Hiramon, and Eggshell. Taka Makie in particular is where the Makie artisan’s skill can be shown, as it can create an atmosphere of luxury and splendor.

◇Chinkin

Chinkin is a decorative technique in which a pattern is carved into the painted surface with a sharp chisel, a thin layer of lacquer is applied, and gold leaf or powder is pressed in to make the pattern stand out. In addition to basic line and dot engraving, there are a variety of engravings, such as scraping and katakiri, depending on the shape of the blade.

Among these, Chinkin is different from painting, as applying it to curved objects such as bowls and tea caddies requires a high level of skill, and it is a technique in which the experience and mental strength of the craftsman are reflected in the work.

How to grow Wajima lacquerware

As mentioned above, Wajima lacquerware products that pass through the hands of many craftsmen come to life and are a reflection of the desire of the people of Wajima to “make good lacquerware.” Finally, in order to enjoy Wajima lacquerware for a long time, there is something you should know about “how to nurture Wajima lacquerware.” If you understand the characteristics and individuality of lacquerware before working with it, the more you spend time working on it, the more beautiful and tasteful it will become.

Before using Wajima lacquerware

When you get your Wajima-nuri lacquerware, take it out of the box, remove the wrapping paper and leave it. This will reduce the distinctive lacquer smell. After that, wash it with lukewarm water and a soft sponge soaked in neutral detergent. If the lacquer smell still bothers you, it is said that storing it in a rice bin for 2-3 days is also effective. Lacquerware that is relatively lightly painted (lacquerware that has not been painted for a long time) will inevitably have a strong lacquer smell. The smell will gradually disappear over the course of days, so use it only once you are comfortable with the smell.

How to use Wajima lacquerware effectively

Depending on the season and your mood, you can arrange food in various dishes and enjoy the appearance, touch, and mouthfeel of the food. Wajima lacquerware is made of wood, so it has low thermal conductivity and is particularly good at retaining heat and cold. This means that hot food stays hot and cold food stays cold. However, it cannot be used in a microwave. The microwaves emitted by a microwave when heating food also affect the water molecules inside the wood, causing damage from the inside. Also, do not put food that is too hot to put your mouth on. This can cause the color and luster of the lacquer to be damaged. When using lacquerware to store hot food, start by pouring lukewarm water into it, and gradually raise the temperature of the lacquerware.

How to care for Wajima lacquerware

You may wonder, “Can I take care of Wajima-nuri?” However, lacquerware can be washed with a neutral detergent, just like ceramics and glassware. Wash gently with the soft side of a well-lathered sponge. Using a scrubbing brush or abrasive powder, or scrubbing with a hard sponge, will cause fine scratches and make the surface lose its luster. It is a good idea to soak the lacquerware in hot water for about 5 minutes before washing other dishes to soften the rice and other stuck-on dirt. After rinsing off the detergent thoroughly, rinse it quickly with water at about 40°C to drain the water quickly. After washing, wipe it with a dry towel or cloth. If you want it to be durable and last as long as possible, wipe it dry with soft gauze or a cloth and hang it in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. However, if you are busy, you can just wash it and place it face down in a rice bowl basket. However, you cannot use a dishwasher or dish dryer as they will damage the wood and the lacquer coating.

Choosing a place to store Wajima lacquerware

Most parts of lacquerware are made of wood. Even when dry, wood contains a small amount of moisture, so extreme dryness or continuous exposure to light can cause rough skin. Using and washing it every day will give it moisture, which makes the lacquerware happy. Lacquerware also does not like to be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. This is to avoid ultraviolet rays, which have the power to decompose organic matter. If you are not going to use it for a long time, it is recommended to store it in a low position in a cupboard where there is a moderate humidity. Wrap it in soft paper or cloth before putting it away. If you put it in a box, it is very convenient to take out the ware if you stick a picture or photo of the stored ware on it. With the correct care, Wajima lacquerware will maintain its beautiful luster forever.

Recommended Wajima Lacquerware

What do you think? I think many people think that Wajima lacquerware is difficult to use or that it is so expensive that it is out of reach! It is true that Wajima lacquerware is a luxury item, but there is a reason for that. Works created over a long period of time by the hands of many craftsmen are robust, elegant, and very sturdy. Once you purchase a Wajima lacquerware piece, it can be repaired, so it will last a lifetime even if it chips.

The types of lacquerware produced in Wajima include confectionery bowls, tea trays, individual plates, flower vases, and other furniture such as low tables and folding screens. The styles range from traditional lacquerware designs to new approaches to modern design. The deeply layered lacquer has a natural luster and is a beautiful work of art in itself. It is soft to the touch, and most importantly, since it is made of natural wood, it is very light and has excellent heat retention. Although the price is a little high, we hope you will pick up a piece and experience the taste of Wajima lacquerware, nurtured in the naturally rich land of Noto.

※For detailed product information, please see each product page.

 

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