Asada Lacquerware Kogei

The roots of Asada Lacquerware Kogei go back to the early 20th century, when Kyosaku Asada learned woodturning skills in the Yamanaka Onsen area and began working as a woodturner. He later settled in the Sugaya district and trained many apprentices, contributing to the development of Yamanaka’s woodturning techniques.

His son Takao succeeded him as a second-generation craftsman, and together with his brothers supported the local industry during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth. The current company was established in 1977 by Ko Asada, who founded Asada Lacquerware Kogei to manufacture and sell lacquerware, building on the family’s woodturning background.

In 1998, the workshop moved into a newly built facility and opened the gallery-shop “Urushi no Utsuwa Asada” on the ground floor, allowing visitors to see and purchase pieces made on site. In 2013, the in-house brand “asada” was launched with the aim of creating “Western-style lacquerware” that suits modern living. Its collections include bowls, cups and plates designed to work well with both Japanese and Western cuisine.

One of the brand’s most distinctive expressions is Murakumo-nuri, a unique decorative method in which the flame of a traditional Japanese candle is used to create soft, cloud-like shadows on the lacquer surface. The “Utsuroi Cup” series and SUWARI Murakumo cups, which make use of these techniques and colour gradations, have received major awards including prizes at the National Traditional Crafts Competition, Good Design Award recognition and Premium Ishikawa Brand certification.

Today, Asada Lacquerware Kogei continues to produce Yamanaka lacquerware using domestic wood and in-house lacquering, while also offering painting workshops that allow visitors to decorate their own chopsticks or bowls. By combining traditional skills with approachable design and hands-on experiences, the company seeks to keep lacquerware close to everyday life and pass Yamanaka’s craft culture on to future generations.

Domestic wood and Yamanaka woodturning for everyday tableware

Asada uses domestic wood as the base material and relies on Yamanaka’s refined woodturning techniques to shape bowls, cups and plates. Finishes such as wiping lacquer and Mehaziki-nuri highlight the grain and tactile warmth of the wood, resulting in tableware that is light, smooth to the touch and easy to incorporate into daily meals.

The “asada” brand and Murakumo-nuri series

The in-house brand “asada” presents lacquerware with a contemporary sensibility, designed to blend naturally into modern interiors and Western-style dining. Its Utsuroi Cup series, featuring soft gradation finishes, and the SUWARI Murakumo series, which employs a unique cloud-like pattern created by candle flames, have won multiple design and craft awards in Japan.

Workshop, gallery-shop and hands-on painting experiences

At “Urushi no Utsuwa Asada”, the gallery-shop attached to the workshop, visitors can see the surrounding countryside, browse a wide selection of Yamanaka lacquerware and take part in painting experiences. These workshops, which include wiping lacquer and painting on chopsticks or bowls, offer an accessible way to learn about the processes and aesthetics of Yamanaka lacquerware.