Nishino Urushi Studio

Takaaki Nishino, head of Nishino Urushi Studio, is from Shirakawa Town, Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture. He entered the world of lacquerware in 1988, studied under the late Shigeru Sugishita in the maki-e department of the Kiso Lacquer-Arts Academy, and then trained at lacquerware shops in Kiso.

From the 1990s on, he repeatedly won selection at the Kiso Living Crafts Museum Craft Exhibition, the National Traditional Crafts Open Exhibition, Odawara's "Wood Craft Competition," the Kanazawa Wan-ONE Grand Prize and more, and in 2013 was certified as a Traditional Craftsperson of Kiso lacquerware. In 2016 he won the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" at the National Traditional Crafts Open Exhibition, working as one of the top-coat masters who represent Kiso lacquerware.

Since becoming independent as "Nishino Urushi Studio" in 2019 and setting up his workshop in Kiso-Hirasawa, the home of Kiso lacquerware, he has continued to share the new appeal of Kiso lacquerware — centered on the top-coating of chopsticks, small goods, bowls and trays, with diverse expression led by his original technique "Ungen-nuri."

The workshop's works are carried at the Kiso Living Crafts Museum, shops in the Narai-juku post town, department-store Kiso-lacquerware corners and select shops, and through corporate collaborations such as bento boxes and shift knobs, it is expanding its presence across various scenes of life.

A chopstick and lacquerware workshop in Kiso-Hirasawa, home of Kiso lacquerware

Nishino Urushi Studio is a workshop in Kiso-Hirasawa, Shiojiri City, Nagano — known as the home of "Kiso lacquerware," a traditional craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Besides working extensively on small goods such as chopsticks, it specializes in the top-coating (nuritate) of vessels such as soup bowls and trays.

Lacquer chopsticks that deepen in luster the more you use them — only a top-coat master can make them

As introduced on the homepage — "chopsticks made by a top-coat master, with luster that deepens the more you use them" — it makes chopsticks whose luster and texture grow with use, through the skill unique to a top-coat master who builds up layers of lacquer. A piece that lets you savor the appeal of lacquer in everyday use.

Kiso lacquerware drawing on traditional techniques: Kiso Tsuishu, Nuriwake Roiro, Shunkei-nuri

It makes vessels and small goods that draw on techniques representative of Kiso lacquerware — "Kiso Tsuishu," "Nuriwake Roiro" and "Shunkei-nuri." A feature is making that combines traditional design with designs close to modern life.

One-of-a-kind patterns born from the original technique "Ungen-nuri"

"Ungen-nuri" is an original technique in which various colors — green, vermilion, pink, black and more — overlap as if bleeding into one another. "Ungen" carries the meaning of "to blur," and combined with the property unique to lacquer — its color shifting with temperature, humidity and how it dries — no two patterns are ever born the same.

Pursuing new forms of lacquer while protecting tradition

While cherishing traditional lacquer techniques, it actively takes on new designs and methods. It is not uncommon for coatings and expressions tried out of playfulness to give rise to new textures and patterns. As a chopstick maker and a top-coat master, it constantly explores the forms of lacquer it wishes to pass on to future generations.

Eco-friendly lacquerware that brightens the user's every day

Lacquerware gains gloss and character the more you use it, and even when damaged it can be re-coated and used for a long time — that is its appeal. Lacquer itself is a naturally derived material that ultimately returns to the soil, with low environmental impact. While coloring the daily table, it offers vessels that are kind to both people and the planet.