Nushikuma

"Nushikuma" — founded in 1887 (Meiji 20) by the first generation Kumaichi in Mukai, Owase City, Mie Prefecture. As a workshop handling "Owase Wappa" — loved as bento boxes for mountain workers — has continued uncompromising making. Hinoki nurtured by Owase's harsh nature has fine, beautiful grain — also strong enough to be used as pillar material. Using only carefully selected parts — by carefully cutting, bending, binding with cherry bark, and rubbing in lacquer many times — birthing unique gloss and texture.

Owase Wappa — passed from parent to child — is said to be durable enough to use for 100 years. What feels "warmth" and "love" not found in artificial materials — is precisely because it's composed only of natural materials: natural wood and lacquer. Like the people of old — who unwrapped wappa bento between mountain work to enjoy a moment of peace — even in modern living — also active as tools that warm the heart every time you scoop rice, pour soup, and pick it up.

The fourth-generation Nushikuma — while protecting traditional techniques — also challenges new lacquerware making — including the "microwave-compatible rice tub." After 2 years of home experiments to confirm whether it does not deform when warming freshly-cooked rice in the rice tub directly in the microwave — sent out with confidence — the product is well-received as Owase Wappa accompanying modern living.

Also — not only Owase Wappa manufacturing — also focusing on repair and maintenance of old lacquerware. Rice tubs and bento boxes — where lacquer has peeled off after long use — can again be active as the dining table's leading role through recoating. Because it takes labor and time — mass production is not possible — but making tools that can accompany long — putting heart into each one — that is the thought at the foundation of Nushikuma's making.

Founded in 1887 — a workshop dedicated to Owase Wappa

Nushikuma is a workshop that has continued making "Owase Wappa" exclusively — since founder Kumaichi founded it in 1887 (Meiji 20). With wappa — long loved as bento boxes for mountain workers — as the origin — while birthing rice tubs and bento boxes matched to changes in living — the stance of protecting all 45 processes remains unchanged. Currently — the fourth-generation Nushikuma inherits the technique — gathering nationwide support to the extent that orders have a 1-year wait.

Commitment to Owase hinoki, natural lacquer, and FSC-certified materials

The Owase region — long known as a high-quality hinoki production area. Even within that — carefully selecting only beautiful parts with fine grain — using as material combining strength and beauty. Furthermore — adopting FSC-certified wood — where responsible forest management is performed. For coating — using only pure natural lacquer — realizing Owase Wappa with excellent sterilization action and durability — gentle to both environment and people.

Owase Wappa finished by one craftsman through all 45 processes

Cutting out carefully-selected Owase hinoki, bending, binding with cherry bark, and rubbing in lacquer many times — Owase Wappa production has 45 processes from base making to coating finish. At Nushikuma — the fourth generation handles all of those by hand. It is not unusual for one wappa to take over 1 month to complete — but accordingly — the presence when held in the hand, and the gloss deepening the more used — are different.

Microwave-compatible rice tub — a new form of Owase Wappa

From the thought "if only we could warm rice in the wappa with microwave" — Nushikuma's original microwave-compatible rice tub was born. Focusing on the characteristic that natural lacquer is heat-resistant — through 2 years of daily microwave testing with the same rice tub — it was commercialized. Not only can you enjoy plump warm rice like freshly-cooked — but the moisture regulation and sterilization properties of wood and lacquer firmly support rice's deliciousness.

Becoming "tableware usable for 100 years" through repair and maintenance

Lacquerware — as it's used — lacquer wears thin and the plain wood may show — but at Nushikuma — also accommodating repairs of various lacquerware: Owase Wappa, of course, plus kagura, festival floats, and Buddhist altars. By performing recoating and repair — it can be passed from parent to child — to grandchildren — that way of being as "tableware usable for 100 years" is also a value Nushikuma cherishes.