Naruko Shikki is lacquerware made in the Naruko Onsen hot spring area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, said to have been founded around the Kan'ei era (1624-1644) in the early Edo period. Its foundation was laid when Date Toshichika, the lord of the Iwadeyama domain, sent lacquer and maki-e craftsmen to Kyoto to study, and it developed as a souvenir for visitors taking the hot spring cure. It was designated a Traditional Craft by the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture on December 1, 1982, and a Traditional Craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on May 20, 1991. Its greatest features are two lacquering techniques: Kijiro-nuri (木地呂塗), which brings out the beautiful wood grain beneath a translucent amber-colored lacquer, and Ryumon-nuri (竜文塗), which uses an ink-marbling technique to create fantastical patterns. Wood such as zelkova and Japanese horse chestnut is turned on a lathe, and the piece is finished through a painstaking process from undercoating to final lacquering, so the grain and coloring grow richer with use. Many pieces are everyday items such as soup bowls, tiered boxes, and trays, making Naruko Shikki a practical lacquerware rooted in the daily life of a hot spring town also known as the home of Naruko kokeshi.
Origin
Naruko Shikki is said to have been founded around the Kan'ei era (1624-1644) in the early Edo period, in the Naruko Onsen hot spring area. Date Toshichika, the lord of the Iwadeyama domain at the time, sent lacquer and maki-e craftsmen to Kyoto to study, laying the technical foundation, and the craft developed as a souvenir for hot spring visitors. It is said that the area's tradition of wood-turning, rooted in its abundant forest resources, also helped support the development of lacquerware.
History
Developed as a hot spring souvenir from the Edo period through the Meiji and Taisho eras, Naruko Shikki was designated a Traditional Craft by the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture on December 1, 1982, and became a Traditional Craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on May 20, 1991. Today, craftsmen centered on the Naruko Shikki Cooperative, including the Goto Lacquer Workshop, carry on the tradition through an integrated process from wood-turning to lacquering, all done by hand.
Features
Its greatest feature lies in lacquering techniques that bring out the natural wood grain. Kijiro-nuri, which uses a translucent amber-colored lacquer, becomes more beautiful in its grain the more it is used. Ryumon-nuri, which creates fantastical patterns using an ink-marbling technique, is a technique unique to Naruko Shikki devised in 1951. Wood such as zelkova and Japanese horse chestnut, sourced locally and turned on a lathe, is finished through a sturdy undercoat and careful final lacquering, resulting in vessels that combine practicality and beauty.
Techniques
Kijiro-nuri
A technique of applying layers of translucent amber-colored lacquer onto zelkova or Japanese horse chestnut wood. Because it does not hide the wood grain beneath, the grain becomes more pronounced and the coloring grows richer with use - the representative lacquering technique of Naruko Shikki.
Ryumon-nuri
A technique unique to Naruko Shikki, devised in 1951. Using an ink-marbling method, it creates fantastical patterns on the lacquer surface that resemble a dancing dragon. Known as a decorative technique that makes use of chance, no two patterns are ever the same.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Wood turning
Zelkova or horse chestnut logs are turned on a lathe to carve out the shape of bowls, trays, and other vessels.
- 2
Wood hardening
Raw lacquer is rubbed into the wood and dried to prevent warping and cracking and to increase strength.
- 3
Undercoating
Layers of lacquer mixed with materials such as ground powder are applied to build a sturdy base.
- 4
Mid-coating and final coating
The process of applying lacquer and then polishing it is repeated, finishing with techniques such as Kijiro-nuri or Ryumon-nuri.
- 5
Polishing
The surface is polished with charcoal or compound to bring out gloss and translucency, completing the piece.
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Artisans & Workshops
後藤漆工房
A workshop located in the center of the Naruko Onsen hot spring area. Goto Tsuneo, the second-generation Naruko Shikki craftsman, has honed his skill for 47 years since becoming independent at age 20, and is one of the leading lacquer artisans who has also served as chairman of the Naruko Shikki Cooperative.
How to Buy
- 鳴子漆器協同組合
- A cooperative located in Minamihara, Naruko Onsen. It brings together the Naruko Shikki made by its member workshops and holds the Naruko Shikki Exhibition every September. Inquiries: TEL 0229-87-2361.
- 島貫漆器店オンラインショップ
- An online shop handling lacquerware from the Tohoku region, including Naruko Shikki. Soup bowls and similar items are available from around 5,500 yen.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. When was Naruko Shikki designated a national Traditional Craft?
A. It was designated a Traditional Craft by the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture on December 1, 1982, and later became a Traditional Craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on May 20, 1991.
Q. What kind of technique is Kijiro-nuri?
A. It is Naruko Shikki's representative lacquering technique, in which a translucent amber-colored lacquer is applied in layers to bring out the natural wood grain. The more it is used, the more beautiful the grain becomes.