Echizen Lacquerware Kumejiro

The Katayama district of Sabae in Fukui Prefecture is known as one of the historical centers of Echizen lacquerware. According to tradition, the origins of Echizen lacquerware date back to the sixth century, and over the centuries the area developed into a major production center whose lacquerware is now widely used by inns and restaurants across Japan. As a workshop rooted in this production area, Kumejiro carries on this lineage while producing lacquerware for both professional and household use.

Kumejiro began as a small workshop in the Meiji era. In Taisho 3 (1914), the second-generation Kumejiro introduced a division-of-labor production system that separated processes such as coating, maki-e decoration and woodwork, contributing to both higher quality and greater productivity in the local industry. The brand has grown together with the Echizen lacquerware community by refining each specialized process.

In 1990, Kumejiro launched the “Kumejirow Collection,” which introduced contemporary elements such as silver grounds into traditional designs and proposed lacquerware that fits modern interiors and table settings. This initiative helped to expand perceptions of Echizen lacquerware beyond strictly traditional imagery and showed how it can harmonize with a wide range of lifestyles.

Today, the brand offers a broad lineup including bowls, plates, jubako and bento boxes, sake cups and pitchers, chopsticks, tea utensils and interior objects. Product categories cover everyday tableware, professional pieces for inns and restaurants, items for milestone celebrations such as weddings and housewarmings, and gifts for corporate and overseas clients.

Through its online shop and dedicated pages for business and corporate gifts as well as overseas shipping, Kumejiro provides detailed consultation for bulk orders and bespoke gifts while sharing the appeal of Echizen lacquerware with customers both in Japan and abroad. Its mission is to respect high-quality natural lacquer, fine materials and handcraft, while continually proposing pieces and designs that fit contemporary life.

A workshop rooted in the 1,500-year history of Echizen lacquerware

Echizen lacquerware has a history said to span around 1,500 years, developing in and around Katayama in Sabae, Fukui, where lacquerware has long been part of daily life. Kumejiro is a workshop brand operating in this production area, manufacturing and wholesaling bowls, plates, jubako boxes and interior pieces as part of the Echizen lacquerware tradition that now supplies a large share of Japan’s professional lacquerware market.

Strictly selected natural lacquer and pure gold and silver powders

Kumejiro places particular emphasis on the quality of its urushi lacquer, using only carefully selected natural lacquer that, when dried, produces a transparent surface layer and rich depth of gloss. For maki-e decoration, the workshop uses pure gold and pure silver powders rather than mixed metal powders. By making uncompromising choices at the material level, the finished pieces acquire a distinctive, elegant sheen and depth when they catch the light.

All processes carried out by skilled artisans by hand

From coating and drying to maki-e decoration and final polishing, each step in lacquerware production at Kumejiro is performed by skilled craftspeople by hand. In maki-e work, colors are built up through repeated cycles of applying lacquer, sprinkling metal powder and drying. The workshop also sprinkles the powder at an early stage of drying so that it penetrates deeper into the lacquer layer, making it possible to polish the surface to achieve a stronger shine and a more three-dimensional appearance.

Over 100 years of history and a modern design approach

Founded in the Meiji era, Kumejiro has been engaged in lacquerware production for more than a century. In Taisho 3 (1914), the second-generation Kumejiro introduced a division-of-labor system, helping to build the production structure that continues today. In 1990, the brand launched the “Kumejirow Collection,” incorporating silver grounds and other contemporary expressions, and more recently has developed items such as lacquered iPhone cases. By combining traditional techniques with designs that suit today’s interiors and lifestyles, the brand shares the appeal of Echizen lacquerware with customers in Japan and around the world.