The Lacquer of Wajima-Nuri

Wajima-Nuri's colored lacquer is made by carefully mixing natural lacquer with natural pigments,
resulting in colors born from nature.
The inherent transparency and luster of the lacquer gently envelop the pigment,
creating rich colors with a depth incomparable to any other paint.
The colors change depending on how the light hits them, and a deeper luster develops with use,
as though the colors live and breathe—the greatest charm of colored lacquer.

The Four Hues of Wajima Lacquer

The Four Hues of Wajima Lacquer

A soft white imbued with warmth

Lacquer is inherently difficult to dye white, requiring particularly advanced techniques.
The transparency of the lacquer envelops the natural pigment, creating a soft, glowing white rather than a pure white.
As the pigment further sinks in over time, the vessel's white hue becomes even brighter.

A brilliant red with elegant beauty

Created with natural pigments such as cinnabar and red ochre,
the red achieves depth and warmth through the transparency of lacquer.
It has a subdued and elegant quality, without being flashy.
Red has long been a special color that symbolizes celebration in Japanese culture.

A calm blue that changes in the light

Blue mineral pigment particles are comparatively large,
and its appearance changes depending on how the light hits it.
Lacquer enhances its luster,
adding a transparency and freshness reminiscent of the beautiful blue ocean.

A rich, glossy black that possesses infinite depth

Black lacquer deepens with each polish, as if absorbing light,
and its characteristic color shines like a mirror.
It is considered the most elegant color that symbolizes the beauty of lacquerware.

The Gradation of Wajima-Nuri

The Gradation of Wajima-Nuri

The Secret Techniques of Lacquerware Craftsmen

The gradations of Wajima lacquerware are created through the advanced technique of craftsmen,
who read the condition of the lacquer and paint layers of light with delicate brush movements.
The harmony between the natural materials and the craftsman's skill creates beautiful shadows
with one-of-a-kind depth and transparency.

The most advanced technique is the process of blurring the boundary between
the colored lacquer and the black lacquer.
By carefully assessing the moment the lacquer dries,
the angle and speed of the brush are adjusted to blend the boundary in one flourish.
It is a process that cannot be redone,
which is exactly where the craftsman's skill truly shines.