Ishikawa | Kogei Japonica

studio hamagawa

arterrace — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:39:00 +0000

KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA / CALLIGRAPHY BRUSH DESIGN

A brush to inspire.
A moment to create.

studio hamagawa is a calligraphy tool design studio based in Kanazawa, Japan, led by Yuuya Hamakawa. Bringing together the quiet beauty of wabi-sabi and an avant-garde spirit, the studio creates brushes and tools for contemporary everyday life.

Apple Tree (BLK). Image source: Ishikawa Design Center.

01 / About

Making room for brush and ink

After eight years working in a calligraphy supply shop, Hamakawa set out to introduce brush culture in a more open, contemporary way. He began practicing as a calligraphy brush designer in November 2024.

His tools are intended for people discovering calligraphy for the first time as well as those who already enjoy a regular creative practice. Respect for tradition meets a playful approach to design, inviting people to pick up a brush and begin.

02 / Craftsmanship

Carving character into every brush

Each handle begins as a piece of wood, cut and shaped on a lathe with woodworking tools. Depending on the design, Hamakawa uses pine soot or bengara pigments with persimmon tannin, followed by a finish of beeswax or rice bran wax. The handles are then fitted with brush heads made in Kumano.

Curves, contours, wood grain, and color give each brush its own character. Alongside handmade brushes, the studio’s Creema shop features small inkstones and bottled ink with droppers.

A selection of handmade brushes. Image source: Ishikawa Design Center.

03 / Designer

Meet the maker

At work in the studio. Image source: Ishikawa Design Center.

CALLIGRAPHY BRUSH DESIGNER

Yuuya Hamakawa

Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa, Hamakawa traveled to France through his involvement in street dance. The experience deepened his interest in Japanese traditional culture. Back in Japan, he developed his knowledge at a calligraphy supply shop in Kanazawa before founding studio hamagawa in 2024.

04 / Recognition

Design recognition & further reading

ISHIKAWA DESIGN CENTER / 2025–2026

Handmade Ink Brush: selected for 2025–2026

The studio’s handmade brushes are featured in the Ishikawa Design Center Selection 2025–2026. The accompanying profile introduces the designs and the maker’s creative background.

Read the feature (Japanese) →

05 / Information

Studio information

Studio	studio hamagawa
Designer	Yuuya Hamakawa
Founded	2024
Location	Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Specialty	Design, production, and sale of handmade brushes and calligraphy tools
Online shop	studio hamagawa on Creema (Japanese)
Instagram	@y2.hmg

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Design Store

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:14:41 +0000

NOMI, ISHIKAWA / DESIGN & CRAFT

Hokuriku craftsmanship,
bringing new possibilities to everyday life.

DesignStore is a design company based in Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan, working across graphic design, packaging and original product development. Its collections include THE EASTON, a brand connecting craft traditions across the Hokuriku region, as well as wooden promotional gifts and wedding stationery.

THE EASTON: exploring the materials and craft traditions of Hokuriku. Image from the DesignStore website.

01 / About

From visual communication to product design

Established as an independent design studio in 2005 and incorporated in 2007, DesignStore has expanded from designing printed materials into developing its own products. The company is led by Representative Director Kenji Higashi.

Its approach brings together graphics that communicate a product’s character and packaging that invites people to pick it up, with careful consideration of how each item will be presented, sold and given as a gift.

02 / Brand

THE EASTON: connecting regional craft traditions

THE EASTON brings together the distinctive qualities of Wajima, Yamanaka and Echizen lacquerware. DesignStore develops the concepts, while workshops in these craft regions apply the finishes, opening up new combinations of materials and techniques.

For its Noto hiba wood tumblers, careful drying and shaping allow the grain of the wood and the color of the lacquer to become part of the design. The collection also extends to crystal glass tumblers finished using Yamanaka lacquerware techniques.

03 / Collection

Objects that bring materials to life

Noto Hiba Wood Tumbler

A rounded tumbler made from Noto hiba wood. The version shown has a black Yamanaka lacquer finish, with a matte surface that brings out the character of the wood.

Crystal Glass Tumbler

The TSUNAGU tumbler combines crystal glass with a Yamanaka lacquerware finish. The interplay of transparency and color offers a different expression from the brand’s wooden pieces.

Noto Hiba Message Charm

A wooden charm made from thin sheets of Noto hiba. Company and store logos can be laser-engraved onto the surface to create distinctive promotional gifts.

Images from the DesignStore website. Materials, finishes and production lead times vary by item.

04 / Works

A connected approach to products, packaging and promotion

DesignStore creates posters, brochures, packaging and signage for businesses, hotels and local governments. It also develops wooden menus, tabletop accessories and commemorative gifts.

Projects featured on its website include signage for Hyatt Centric Kanazawa, packaging for Kanazawa New Grand Hotel, and packaging for its own product collections.

05 / Features

Features & recognition

JAPAN DORAKU / DECEMBER 19, 2025 / ENGLISH

THE EASTON’s Wajima lacquer tumbler for OKURA

This English-language feature introduces a special-order tumbler created for OKURA, the flagship store of BLUE BLUE JAPAN. It explores the combination of Noto hiba wood and Wajima lacquer, with a finish by lacquer artisan Hiroshi Nakamon.

Read the English feature →

INPIT / APRIL 15, 2026

Building the foundations of THE EASTON

This case study from Japan’s National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) explores the development of THE EASTON, including trademark registration and design applications for new products.

Read the case study (Japanese) →

ISHIKAWA DESIGN / 2024

Recognition at the 51st Ishikawa Design Exhibition

THE EASTON received the Ishikawa Tourism Federation Chairman’s Award in the Communication Design category. The project appears in the organizer’s official list of award winners.

View the award list (Japanese PDF) →

ISICO / PRODUCT CATALOG

Featured in the Ishikawa product catalog

The catalog introduces THE EASTON’s round Noto hiba wood tumbler with a Yamanaka lacquer finish, alongside product details and company information.

View the product listing (Japanese) →

06 / Information

Company details

Company	DesignStore Co., Ltd.
Representative	Kenji Higashi, Representative Director
Founded	2005
Incorporated	June 21, 2007
Address	Ri-1 Yuyamachi, Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan
Services	Graphic and packaging design; original product development and sales; wooden promotional gifts and wedding stationery
Brand	THE EASTON
Telephone	+81 761-51-6366
Web & social	Official website & online shop Selected projects Instagram

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Otsuji Sikki

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:51:34 +0000

KAGA, ISHIKAWA / SCREEN MAKI-E & GIFTS

The art of maki-e, made for everyday life.

Otsuji Sikki Inc. is a manufacturer and wholesaler of Yamanaka lacquerware based in Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan. Specializing in screen maki-e decoration, the company creates stationery, keepsake boxes, mirrors and temple stamp books, alongside custom gifts and commemorative pieces.

Screen maki-e in progress. Image courtesy of the Otsuji Sikki website.

01 / About

Yamanaka craftsmanship for the things we use every day

Founded as a family lacquerware business in 1945, Otsuji Sikki was incorporated in 1976 and adopted its current legal form in 1996. Its roots lie in preparing lacquerware surfaces in Yamanaka Onsen, a background that continues to inform its approach to making useful, beautifully finished objects.

Led by Mutsumi Otsuji, the company brings its expertise in coating and decorative finishes to stationery and small accessories, creating pieces to enjoy at home or give as gifts.

02 / Craftsmanship

Precision printing meets the hand of the artisan

The company specializes in screen maki-e, a contemporary approach that combines screen-printed designs with the application of gold and colored powders. Artisans adjust the colors, printing pressure and alignment of successive screens to build up detailed patterns and lettering.

Surfaces are also prepared using spray coatings applied by hand. Materials and finishes vary by product: the range includes wooden pieces as well as items made from ABS resin and other materials with urethane coatings.

An introduction featured on the company’s official website.

03 / Collection

Decorative details for everyday rituals

TSUNAGUYO Notebook — New Growth

A notebook cover decorated with maki-e, bringing the rhythm and detail of Japanese pattern design to everyday writing.

Moon Rabbit Compact Mirror

A portable round mirror featuring a moon-and-rabbit motif, turning an everyday accessory into a small expression of Japanese design.

Iris Musical Jewelry Box

A small jewelry box with an iris design and a built-in music box, combining practical storage with decorative detail.

Images from the company’s official website. The range also includes goshuin books for collecting temple and shrine stamps, tea canisters, natsume tea caddies, business card holders, hand mirrors and mouse pads.

04 / Collaboration

TSUNAGUYO: Isa Monyo patterns meet maki-e

Launched in 2021, TSUNAGUYO brings together Kyoto’s Isa Monyo stencil designs and Yamanaka maki-e decoration in a collection of notebook covers. Motifs such as knots, chrysanthemums and new growth carry their own associations and meanings into an everyday writing companion.

The notebook inside can be replaced, allowing the cover to be used again. The company’s account of the project describes a close development process with the Isa Monyo design studio, from selecting patterns to refining the colors.

05 / Custom Orders

Maki-e designed for a particular occasion

Otsuji Sikki offers company names and logos on existing products, as well as custom maki-e designs developed from the initial pattern and color palette. Each project is shaped around its purpose, quantity, budget and delivery schedule, with materials and finishes considered before production begins.

Past projects featured on the official website include commemorative trays for sumo wrestler Kotoshogiku’s retirement ceremony, wooden presentation boxes for eyewear brand Ptolemy48, and goshuin stamp books for Eiheiji Temple. Options extend beyond decoration to the choice of material, color and box specifications.

Minimum quantities and lead times depend on the product and design. Please inquire about your project’s requirements.

06 / Features

Product features & announcements

BEAMS JAPAN / PRODUCT FEATURE / ENGLISH

A special-order wooden box with maki-e decoration

BEAMS JAPAN presents an Otsuji Sikki box decorated with Mount Fuji and pine trees. Its English product page explains the use of Noto hiba wood, screen maki-e and design details developed for this special order.

View the English product feature →

NEWSCAST / COMPANY PRESS RELEASE / DECEMBER 7, 2021

The story behind TSUNAGUYO

This company announcement introduces the collaboration with Isa Monyo, the decorative qualities of maki-e and the replaceable notebook format. It offers background on the collection’s design and development.

Read the announcement (Japanese) →

ISICO / PRODUCT CATALOG / UPDATED APRIL 17, 2020

Fuji Sakura goshuin stamp book

The Ishikawa industry support organization’s product catalog introduces a goshuin book with a black finish and gold-colored decoration, with details of its design and use.

View the product listing (Japanese) →

07 / Information

Company details

Company	Otsuji Sikki Inc.
Representative	Mutsumi Otsuji
Founded	1945
Incorporated	1976; adopted its current legal form in 1996
Address	13-5 Besshomachi Shikkidanchi, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0274, Japan
Services	Lacquerware manufacturing, wholesale and retail; screen maki-e decoration; custom designs; personalized gifts and commemorative items
Products	Stationery, keepsake boxes, mirrors, goshuin stamp books, tea canisters, natsume tea caddies and trays
Web	Official website Online shop Custom projects

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Kinsai

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:36:59 +0000

YAMANAKA ONSEN, ISHIKAWA / LACQUERWARE

The warmth of wood and lacquer, at your table.

Founded in 1902 in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa, Kinsai Ltd. creates lacquerware that brings out the character of its materials and feels natural to use. Working with local woodturners and lacquer artisans, the company develops tableware for everyday life and offers repairs to help favorite pieces remain in use for years to come.

Image: Kinsai official website

01 / About

Three generations of lacquerware in Yamanaka Onsen

Kinsai began with a craftsman specializing in the final coats of lacquer. Now in its third generation, the business draws on its experience creating tableware for restaurants to make pieces equally at home on the everyday dining table.

Its collections build on Yamanaka’s woodturning and lacquering traditions, offering thoughtfully made pieces for daily use and gifts.

02 / Craftsmanship

Wood grain, texture, and the feel of a vessel

Kinsai’s approach brings together techniques such as decorative turning, which cuts fine grooves and patterns into wood, and fuki-urushi, a finish built up by repeatedly applying lacquer and wiping away the excess. These methods allow the wood’s grain and texture to remain part of the finished piece.

Decorative woodturning / Image: Kinsai official website

Keyaki Hatsuri-Suji Bowls

Made from Japanese zelkova, this collection uses skilled lathe work to create irregular grooves with the character of hand-carved wood. The range includes soup bowls, rice bowls, and larger donburi bowls.

Chestnut Lacquerware and Wagata Trays

The gallery also presents chestnut lacquerware, Wagata trays, and one-of-a-kind pieces, giving visitors the opportunity to compare materials, forms, and finishes in person.

03 / People

Osamu Wada, the third-generation Kinsai

Osamu Wada / Image: Kinsai official website

President Osamu Wada carries on the family business under the name Kinsai Wada III, bringing the skills of Yamanaka’s artisans into tableware for contemporary life.

His official biography lists the Grand Prize at the 1997 Tableware Festival, followed in 2001 by the festival’s top prize and an award from the Director-General of the Manufacturing Industries Bureau at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

04 / Services

Creating, repairing, and keeping pieces in use

Alongside product development, production, and sales, Kinsai offers repairs for wooden vessels finished with natural urushi lacquer, as well as kintsugi repairs for ceramics. Each repair is assessed according to the piece’s materials and condition.

The company also develops original products for business partners. In 2024, it announced a project involving Wajima-made chopsticks for the JAL and JTA group as part of efforts to support recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

05 / Gallery

Discover Kinsai in Yamanaka Onsen

The Kinsai gallery presents everyday tableware alongside one-of-a-kind pieces. Visitors can explore the grain and weight of the wood, examine the lacquer finish, and find something to take home or give as a gift.

Kinsai gallery / Image: Kinsai official website

Open weekdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Visits on weekends and public holidays are by appointment. Please check the official website for current visitor information and displays.

06 / Features

Brand and product features

DAIWA / BRAND PROFILE

Kinsai Creative Lacquerware

Japanese department store Daiwa introduces Kinsai’s approach to lacquerware, highlighting the woodturning and wiped-lacquer techniques used in its tableware. The profile includes photographs of the craft and selected products.

Read the brand profile (Japanese) →

ISICO / PRODUCT CATALOG / UPDATED FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Keyaki Hatsuri-Suji Soup Bowl

The Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization (ISICO) features Kinsai’s Japanese zelkova soup bowl in its product catalog. The entry explains how skilled lathe work creates its distinctive irregular grooves and provides product specifications.

View the product feature (Japanese) →

07 / Information

Company	Kinsai Ltd.
Brand	Kinsai Creative Lacquerware
President	Osamu Wada (Kinsai Wada III)
Founded	1902
Address	I-207-1, Yamanakaonsen Tsukatanimachi, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0111, Japan
Services	Lacquerware design, production, and sales; lacquerware repair; kintsugi repair for ceramics
Website & social	Official website Online shop Instagram

Saishokunuri Nakakado

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:48:39 +0000

WAJIMA, ISHIKAWA / CONTEMPORARY LACQUERWARE

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.

Cloud collection / Image: Saishokunuri Nakakado, official website

01 / About

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.

02 / Craftsmanship

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.

03 / Collection

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

04 / Collaboration

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.

05 / Experience

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

06 / Features

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	Official Website Online Shop Instagram Videos Topcoating Experience

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Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:16:45 +0000

WAJIMA, ISHIKAWA / URUSHI CHOPSTICKS

Wajima craftsmanship, at your table every day.

Founded in Wajima, Ishikawa, in 1949, Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten Co., Ltd. specializes in urushi lacquered chopsticks. Drawing on generations of expertise in lacquering and decoration, the company brings together the character of natural materials and designs made for today’s dining table.

Noto Hiba Lacquered Chopsticks, Engimono collection / Image: Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten

01 / About

A family craft, made for modern dining

The business began when Wajima lacquer artisan Kousaku Hashimoto established his own workshop. Incorporated in 2010, the company is now led by President Kiyono Hashimoto, with the fourth generation helping develop new products and new ways to reach customers.

In 2020, the company launched 18ZEN, a chopstick brand designed to bring lacquer into everyday life. Its colors, patterns, and distinctive textures invite people unfamiliar with lacquerware to discover it through something they use at every meal.

02 / Craftsmanship

Noto hiba wood, urushi lacquer, and the artisan’s touch

18ZEN chopsticks are made from Noto hiba wood and finished with urushi, a natural lacquer. Each wooden blank is inspected individually, and artisans carry out the lacquering, decoration, and final checks by hand. The wood’s lightness and comfortable feel are complemented by the colors and patterns of the lacquer finish.

For kanshitsu chopsticks, artisans sprinkle powdered, hardened lacquer onto a lacquered surface, apply further coats, and polish the finish. The resulting fine texture gives the chopsticks their distinctive feel and helps provide a secure grip.

03 / Collection

For everyday meals and thoughtful gifts

Noto Hiba Lacquered Chopsticks

Introduced in April 2026, this collection combines Noto hiba wood and urushi lacquer with colors and patterns inspired by auspicious symbols, cherry blossoms, and Japan’s seasons. Designed for everyday use, the chopsticks also offer visitors a practical keepsake of Japanese craft.

Kanshitsu Chopsticks

A textured finish made with powdered lacquer defines this collection. Successive layers of lacquer and polishing reveal decorative patterns, bringing together everyday practicality and a colorful presence at the table.

18ZEN — Urushi Chopsticks

18ZEN takes the workshop’s specialty—its skill in lacquering—and gives it a contemporary expression. Collections such as Mizutama, Kuroshiro, and Shiroobi offer a choice of colors and patterns, whether for your own table or as a gift of two complementary pairs.

Images: Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten, official website

04 / Business

Small-batch OEM and custom chopstick production

Alongside its own collections and wholesale business, the company offers small-batch OEM production. Its experience in lacquer application and decoration supports the development and manufacture of chopsticks for other brands.

For product development or wholesale inquiries, please outline the intended use, quantity, design, and delivery schedule. Available specifications and production terms are discussed individually.

05 / Shop

Discover your next pair in person

Inside the company’s shop / Image: Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten

Hashiya MAN-E-MON

Opened in April 2026, MAN-E-MON is the company’s first directly operated shop. Combining a gallery and retail space, it offers a place to see the collections and choose a pair in person.

The company also operates online shops. Please confirm current opening arrangements before visiting.

06 / Features

Company Name	Hashimoto Kousaku Sikkiten Co., Ltd.
President	Kiyono Hashimoto
Founded / Incorporated	Founded in 1949 / Incorporated in 2010
Address	52-39 Kekachidaira-machi, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0023, Japan
Business	Design, manufacture, retail, and wholesale of urushi lacquered chopsticks; small-batch OEM production
Collections & Brands	Noto Hiba Lacquered Chopsticks, Kanshitsu Chopsticks, and 18ZEN
Company Shop	Hashiya MAN-E-MON
Websites & Social Media	Company Website 18ZEN MAN-E-MON Online Shop 18ZEN Online Shop Instagram (MAN-E-MON) Instagram (18ZEN)

Nushiya Ichimatsu

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:56:40 +0000

WAJIMA, ISHIKAWA / LACQUERWARE

Layered with care. Made to be renewed.
Wajima lacquerware for everyday life.

Nushiya Ichimatsu is a third-generation Wajima lacquerware workshop in Ishikawa, Japan. It manages every stage of lacquer application in its own workshop, from the foundation layers to the final coat. Its work spans everyday tableware, pieces for restaurants, and repairs, with a close connection to the people who use its products.

Image: Nushiya Ichimatsu

01 / About

Connecting craft with the people who use it

A nushiya does more than apply lacquer. The role also involves understanding a customer’s needs and coordinating with specialists in wooden bases and decorative finishes. At Ichimatsu, this approach has passed from second-generation artisan Haruo Ichimatsu to third-generation head Satoshi Ichimatsu.

Through its Wajima workshop and its own shop, Nushiya Urushinoki in Kanazawa, Ichimatsu brings together making, retail, and repairs that help keep lacquerware in use.

02 / Craftsmanship

Every lacquer layer, managed in one workshop

Ichimatsu keeps the entire lacquering process under one roof, from preparing the foundation to applying the final coat. This allows the workshop to maintain a consistent vision for each piece, giving as much attention to the layers beneath the surface as to the visible finish.

Image: Nushiya Ichimatsu, About the Workshop

03 / Collection

Everyday tableware and HATOH, inspired by the sea

ICHIMATSU

The collection includes bowls in a range of sizes, including the traditional gōroku style, as well as mugs, sake cups, tea saucers, plates, and trays. Each brings Wajima lacquerware into the daily rituals of dining, tea, and sake.

ICHIMATSU HATOH

HATOH takes its inspiration from the powerful waves and sea foam of Noto’s winter coastline. Gold leaf is applied over layers of lacquer, then finished with Ichimatsu’s own blend of shuai lacquer. The colors gradually evolve with use, giving each piece a changing character.

Images: Nushiya Ichimatsu, official product collection

04 / People

Haruo Ichimatsu: a life in lacquer

Haruo Ichimatsu / Image: Nushiya Ichimatsu

Haruo Ichimatsu, the workshop’s second-generation artisan, joined the family lacquerware business after working as an automotive mechanic. In 1996, he opened Nushiya Urushinoki in Kanazawa’s Kazue-machi district. Alongside making new pieces, he has devoted his lacquer skills to repairing and restoring cherished tableware.

Today, third-generation head Satoshi Ichimatsu continues the nushiya’s role, bringing customers’ needs into both new commissions and repair work.

05 / Services

Tableware for restaurants. Repairs for lasting use.

Ichimatsu produces tableware for restaurants, including bespoke pieces tailored to a particular setting or cuisine. Working with clients on form and function, the workshop develops Wajima lacquerware suited to the way food is served and enjoyed.

The workshop also offers repair, refinishing, and reworking services, assessing each piece according to its condition, from damage to a dulled surface. Making and mending are complementary parts of its work, helping customers continue using the lacquerware they value.

06 / Features

Workshop Information

Name	Nushiya Ichimatsu
Head of Workshop	Satoshi Ichimatsu, third generation
Workshop	37-4 Nagaguchi, Chudamachi, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0041, Japan
Shop	Nushiya Urushinoki 1-3-10 Kannonmachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0831, Japan
Services	Wajima lacquerware design, production, and retail; restaurant tableware and bespoke commissions; lacquerware repair, refinishing, and reworking
Products	Bowls, cups, sake vessels, tea saucers, plates, trays, chopsticks, and the ICHIMATSU HATOH collection
Website & Social Media	Website (Japanese) Website (English) Online Shop Instagram X

Addresses are as listed on the official website. Please contact the business before visiting the shop or workshop.

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Ishikawa Shippohdo

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:06:26 +0000

YAMANAKA, ISHIKAWA / LACQUERWARE

Made to Hold.
Made for Everyday Life.

Ishikawa Shippohdo Co., Ltd. makes and sells lacquerware in Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture. Drawing on lacquer techniques passed down since its founding in 1947, the company creates pieces for everyday meals and moments over tea.

Image: Ishikawa Shippohdo official website

01 / About

A Family Tradition of Making and Selling Lacquerware

The business began in 1947, when Shozo Ishikawa established Ishikawa Shozo Shoten, preparing and lacquering pieces himself and selling them across Japan. It was incorporated as Ishikawa Shippohdo in 1986 and is now led by third-generation owner Minoru Ishikawa.

At the workshop adjoining its premises, wooden blanks go through ground preparation, intermediate coating and final lacquering. The finished pieces bring together the region’s woodturning skills and the workshop’s expertise in lacquer.

02 / Craftsmanship

From Ground Preparation to the Final Coat

The workshop has dedicated areas for ground preparation, lathe-assisted sanding and polishing, intermediate coating, spray application and final lacquering. Each stage has its own place in the careful process of building up and finishing the surface.

Image: Ishikawa Shippohdo workshop page

03 / Collection

Wood and Lacquer for the Everyday Table

Yayoi Soup Bowls

The Yayoi series features carved facets in mizume wood, creating a surface with a distinctive feel in the hand. Finishes include Negoro, Akebono and Tame lacquer with either a red or black interior.

Shizuku Cherrywood Cups

These rounded cherrywood cups pair a vivid, glossy exterior with an interior finished in suri-urushi, a technique in which lacquer is rubbed into the wood to reveal its grain. The contrast brings color and natural texture together in one piece.

Yayoi soup bowl, Tame lacquer with a black interior. Image: Shippohdo Online Shop

The range also includes Hikime vessels with turned grooves, rice and noodle bowls, plates, serving bowls, chopsticks and cutlery, with pieces suited to both everyday use and gifts.

04 / Film

Discover Ishikawa Shippohdo on Film

Introductory film featured on the Ishikawa Shippohdo official website

05 / Further Reading

English Features and Brand Profiles

UTSUWABI / RETAILER’S GUIDE

Lacquerware Cutlery for Everyday Dining

Tableware retailer UTSUWABI features Ishikawa Shippohdo’s vermilion curry spoon and Akebono ramen spoon in its English guide to cutlery, with suggestions for using them at the table.

Read the English guide →

UMAMI SQUARE / RETAILER’S BRAND PROFILE

The Family Behind Ishikawa Shippohdo

Japanese craft retailer Umami Square introduces the company’s origins in Yamanaka Onsen and the three generations of the Ishikawa family behind it. The page also presents its Shizuku cherrywood cup.

Read the English brand profile →

06 / Information

Company	Ishikawa Shippohdo Co., Ltd.
Founded / Incorporated	Founded in 1947; incorporated on January 6, 1986
Leadership	Minoru Ishikawa, Representative Director
Location	Wa 529-1, Yamanaka Onsen Uwabara-machi, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0106, Japan
Business Activities	Manufacture and wholesale of Yamanaka lacquerware; retail sales in-store and online
Product Range	Soup bowls, rice bowls, cups, plates, serving bowls, chopsticks and cutlery
Shop	A shop is located on the second floor of the company’s premises. Visitors are encouraged to arrange their visit by phone or email in advance.
Website / Social Media	Official Website Online Shop Instagram

Shimada Touki

arterrace — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 01:54:47 +0000

NOMI, ISHIKAWA / KUTANI WARE

The Colors of Kutani,
At Home in Everyday Life.

Based in Tatsunokuchi, Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, Shimada Toki Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures and sells Kutani ware. Its range spans tableware for everyday use and individual artists’ works that bring color and character to an interior.

Image: Shimada Toki official website

01 / About

Kutani for the Table and the Home

Founded in 1943 and incorporated in May 1972, Shimada Toki develops, manufactures and sells Kutani ware, and produces its own product catalogs.

From pieces used at mealtimes and over tea to ceramics chosen for display, its collections offer a variety of ways to make Kutani ware part of daily life.

02 / Collection

Kiln Craftsmanship and Individual Expression

Kutani Kobo Kichiemon Kiln

Kutani Kobo Kichiemon Kiln draws on the tradition of overglaze enamel decoration while exploring colors and designs suited to contemporary life. Its vessels bring Kutani’s distinctive palette to everyday settings.

Selected Works by Kutani Artists

The company also offers vases, decorative plates and other works that reflect each artist’s skills and creative vision. Their varied approaches to color, painted decoration and form reveal the breadth of expression within Kutani ware.

Images: Shimada Toki official product pages

03 / Everyday & Gifts

For Everyday Use, Thoughtful Gifts and Display

The range includes Japanese teacups, rice bowls, mugs, teapots, small plates and sake ware, alongside vases, ceramic clocks, beckoning cats and owl figurines. It offers choices for different occasions, settings and recipients.

Product details are available through the company’s Kichiemon Kiln store on Rakuten and its COREZO shop.

04 / Business

Connecting Kutani Craft with New Markets

On J-GoodTech, the business matching platform operated by the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN (SMRJ), Shimada Toki introduces its products and business activities. The company outlines plans to expand its domestic sales channels and build connections with overseas businesses and buyers interested in Japanese craft.

05 / Directory

Exhibitor Listings and Company Profiles

NAGOYA TABLETOP SHOW / EXHIBITOR

Nagoya Tabletop Show

The organizer’s exhibitor directory introduces Shimada Toki as a ceramics business from the Kutani region.

View exhibitor listing (Japanese) →

J-GOODTECH / COMPANY PROFILE

Products, Collections and Business Development

This company profile introduces Kutani Kobo Kichiemon Kiln, works by individual artists and the company’s plans to develop new business relationships.

View company profile (Japanese) →

06 / Information

Company	Shimada Toki Co., Ltd.
Founded / Incorporated	Founded in 1943; incorporated in May 1972
Location	701 Tatsunokuchi-machi, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1245, Japan
Business Activities	Development, manufacture and sale of Kutani ware; production of original Kutani ware catalogs
Collections	Kutani Kobo Kichiemon Kiln; works by Kutani artists; tableware, sake ware, vases, decorative plates and figurines
Website / Online Shops	Official Website Rakuten COREZO

Masui Sai Honkanshitsu

arterrace — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:42:08 +0000

Masui Sai Honkanshitsu

WAJIMA, ISHIKAWA / URUSHI ACCESSORIES

The Luster of Wajima, Made to Wear.
Color and Craft in Every Lacquered Bead.

Based in Wajima, Ishikawa, Masui Sai Honkanshitsu creates urushi lacquer jewelry and Buddhist prayer beads. Drawing on roiro, the polishing technique that gives Wajima lacquerware its distinctive luster, the workshop brings rich color and a luminous finish to each small bead.

The color and luster of urushi, captured in small beads. Image: Masui Sai Honkanshitsu official website.

01 / Craft

A Luster Brought Out by Hand

Roiro is a finishing technique in which a lacquered surface is carefully abraded and polished to bring out its luster. Masui Sai Honkanshitsu applies urushi to wooden beads and shell beads of the kind used as nuclei in cultured pearls, then polishes them with the palms and fingertips.

Techniques passed down through generations of lacquerware making find a new place in everyday dress. Alongside traditional reds and blacks, the workshop explores softer colors and metallic accents, expanding the possibilities of wearable lacquer.

02 / Collection

The Many Expressions of Urushi

Nuance Gold

These earrings owe their soft, muted palette to jinoko, a diatomaceous earth powder traditionally used in Wajima lacquerware undercoats. A subtle shimmer complements the luster of the lacquer.

MY PLANET

Colored lacquer and shimmering mineral accents create a sense of depth. A single bead forms the focal point of each necklace, adding a touch of color to an outfit.

HAKU

Layers of lacquer and gold leaf transform wooden beads into necklaces and earrings. The collection pairs black or white lacquer with the warm gleam of gold.

Images: Nuance Gold — Ishikawa Design Center; MY PLANET and HAKU — Masui Sai Honkanshitsu official website.

03 / Maker

Meet the Maker: Katsumune Masui

Applying lacquer to each bead by hand.
Image: Ishikawa Design Center.

An Inherited Craft, an Evolving Practice

Born in Wajima in 1958, Katsumune Masui began learning roiro from his father in 1982. In 1985, he completed the lacquer application course at the Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Institute of Lacquer Arts.

Today, he runs the workshop with his wife, making lacquer jewelry and prayer beads. Combining the skills inherited from his father with his own experience, he creates pieces that bring urushi into everyday life.

04 / Collaboration

New Expressions Through Collaboration

For ZUTTO, the workshop developed an exclusive version of its Nuance Gold earrings with hook fittings. Its collaboration with BEAMS JAPAN includes jewelry in an exclusive color. These retailer partnerships bring fresh colors and forms to the workshop’s lacquer craft.

05 / Media

Features & Interviews

ZUTTO / BRAND INTERVIEW · ENGLISH

From Roiro Craft to Everyday Jewelry

In this English-language interview, retailer ZUTTO speaks with the couple behind the workshop about their move into lacquer jewelry, their choice of shell beads, and the development of the Nuance series. The feature also introduces the earrings created exclusively for ZUTTO.

Read the interview →

ISICO / AUGUST 2, 2024 · JAPANESE

Returning to Work in Wajima and Reaching New Customers

A report from ISICO magazine, vol. 136, follows the workshop’s return to production after the Noto Peninsula earthquake. It explores product development and efforts to reach new customers through trade shows.

Read the article (Japanese) →

06 / Information

Workshop Information

Name	Masui Sai Honkanshitsu
Owner	Katsumune Masui
Address	Building D, Room 7, 4-89 Marine Town, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0008, Japan
Workshop	Wajima Kobo Nagaya, Nigiwai Kobo, North A-2 4-66-1 Kawai-machi, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0001, Japan
Activities	Roiro finishing for Wajima lacquerware; production and sale of lacquer jewelry and prayer beads
Collections	Nuance Gold, Nuance Color, MY PLANET, HAKU, Urushi no Ai
Website & Social Media	Official Website Instagram

The post Masui Sai Honkanshitsu first appeared on Kogei Japonica.

Ishikawa | Kogei Japonica

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An introduction to the art of topcoating

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Discover your next pair in person

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A Wajima Chopstick Maker’s History and Collections

Company Information

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Connecting craft with the people who use it

Every lacquer layer, managed in one workshop

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