Ishikawa Shippohdo
About Company
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discover Ishikawa Shippohdo on Film
Introductory film featured on the Ishikawa Shippohdo official website
English Features and Brand Profiles
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 →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 →Company 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 |
