Saishokunuri Nakakado
About Company
The colors of Wajima, expressed in lacquer.
Wajima Saishokunuri Nakakado is a lacquerware workshop in Wajima, Ishikawa, specializing in topcoating and colored urushi lacquer. Inspired by the sea, sky, clouds, sunsets, and plant life, its gradients and lustrous finishes bring Wajima lacquerware into contemporary homes and dining spaces.
Exploring the possibilities of the final coat
The workshop carries on the legacy of Nakakado Lacquerware, founded in 1926. Fourth-generation artisan Hiroshi Nakakado is a certified traditional craftsperson specializing in uwanuri, the final coating stage of Wajima lacquerware.
His work explores gradients of red and black alongside a wider palette of colored lacquer. Form and function are considered together with the depth and luster that the lacquer finish itself can achieve.
Capturing nature’s changing colors
The appearance of colored lacquer depends on more than its formulation. Coating thickness, consistency, temperature, and humidity during curing all affect the result. Nakakado draws on an understanding of these variables to create smooth transitions between different colors.
Although made with wooden bases, the vessels have a luster and visual depth reminiscent of glass. Alongside black and vermilion, bright colors and softer tones offer new ways to enjoy lacquerware throughout the home.
Four collections, each with its own palette
Shine
Lustrous finishes and shifting colors define this collection. Cups, bowls, sake vessels, and trays bring the interplay of light and lacquer to the table.
Cloud
Cloud draws on Wajima’s sea, sky, and clouds, translating the landscape into layers of color. The collection includes cups, sake cups, vases, and tea ceremony utensils.
Akebono
Gradations of vermilion and black give this collection its character. Rich color and gloss lend depth to a traditional palette, applied to bowls, sake vessels, and other pieces for daily use.
Irodori
Pigments blended into urushi create the vivid colors of Irodori. Through drinking cups, dessert cups, and other pieces, the collection offers an approachable way to bring lacquer into everyday life.
Images: Collection photography from Saishokunuri Nakakado’s official website
Pallet: from an artisan’s color samples to the table
Introduced in 2025, Pallet takes its inspiration from the color samples artisans make when exploring new finishes. Available as large and small plates and small serving bowls, the collection turns overlapping colors into a feature of the dining table.
The collection was developed with product design and promotional support from Concent through its Noto Peninsula earthquake recovery initiative. It brings Nakakado’s lacquer expertise into a collaborative design process, exploring new expressions for contemporary tableware.
An introduction to the art of topcoating
The workshop offers a hands-on introduction to lacquer topcoating, with first-time participants working on a panel. It provides an opportunity to encounter the craft and explore colored lacquer. Please confirm available dates and booking arrangements directly with the workshop.
Introduction video featured on Saishokunuri Nakakado’s official website
Further Reading in English
Lacquerware: A painting tradition with modern elements
This English-language feature explores contemporary approaches to Japanese lacquerware and includes Saishokunuri Nakakado’s use of light blue, pink, and purple lacquer. Published by The Japan News/Yomiuri and available through inkl. Registration may be required to read the article.
Read the feature in English →Workshop Information
| Name | Wajima Saishokunuri Nakakado (Nakakado Lacquerware) |
|---|---|
| Representative | Hiroshi Nakakado, fourth-generation artisan and certified traditional craftsperson in Wajima lacquerware |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Address | 5-16-5 Futatsuya-machi, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0021, Japan |
| Services | Wajima lacquerware production and retail; product development using colored lacquer and topcoating techniques; collaborations across disciplines; hands-on topcoating experiences |
| Products | Bowls, cups, sake vessels, plates, trays, vases, tea ceremony utensils, and accessories |
| Collections | Shine, Cloud, Akebono, Irodori, and Pallet |
| Website & Social Media |
