Joboji-nuri is practical, everyday lacquerware crafted mainly in Joboji, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture. Its origins are traced to 728 CE (the 5th year of Jinki), when the monk Gyoki founded Tendai-ji Temple in the area, and monks dispatched from the capital brought lacquer craftsmanship with them to make their own everyday utensils. Plain, understated vessels with minimal decoration became known as 'Oyama-goki,' and the craft spread as a product of the Nanbu domain during the feudal era. Joboji, in Ninohe City, is Japan's leading production area for domestic lacquer, supplying roughly 70 to 80 percent of all lacquer harvested in Japan. Using abundant locally sourced lacquer, the plain finishes in vermilion, black, and tame (amber-brown) develop a deeper luster with use, and the craft of making everyday tableware, valued for its practicality, continues to be passed down today.
Origin
The origins of Joboji-nuri are said to trace back to 728 CE (the 5th year of Jinki), when the monk Gyoki founded Tendai-ji Temple in Joboji, Ninohe City, and the monks dispatched there from the capital brought lacquer craftsmanship with them to make their own everyday utensils. These plain, practical vessels for daily use, with almost no decoration, developed within a temple life centered on frugality and simplicity, and were known in earlier times as 'Oyama-goki.'
History
During the feudal era, Joboji-nuri became an important product of the Nanbu domain, with production spreading from around Tendai-ji Temple to the area near the former town of Yashiro, and it became widely known under the name 'Oyama-goki.' Joboji, in Ninohe City, remains one of Japan's leading centers for lacquer tappers today, with more than 40 craftspeople harvesting lacquer each season. As a hub for lacquerware made with locally harvested raw lacquer, the region's techniques and production system have been maintained to this day.
Features
Joboji-nuri is characterized by plain finishes in vermilion, black, and tame (amber-brown), without elaborate decoration such as maki-e or mother-of-pearl inlay, placing emphasis on practicality for everyday use. Part of its appeal is that the lacquer's luster deepens the more it is used. The local Joboji lacquer is noted for its strength once hardened, along with a wide range of transparency and viscosity, giving it excellent durability. Joboji, in Ninohe City, is a leading production area for domestic lacquer, and locally sourced, locally made lacquerware is a defining feature of the craft.
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Artisans & Workshops
滴生舎
A workshop and shop for Joboji-nuri lacquerware at the foot of Tendai-ji Temple, in the Oyama district. Visitors can watch the production process through glass, and the workshop also handles lacquerware repairs.
Official site →How to Buy
- 滴生舎
- A shop displaying and selling Joboji lacquerware such as bowls and chopsticks made with Joboji lacquer. Admission is free, and visitors can also see the production process at the adjoining workshop.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
滴生舎
岩手県二戸市浄法寺町御山中前田23-6
Free admission. Open 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and the year-end/New Year holidays.
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