Miyazaki Lacquerware

The history of Miyazaki lacquerware dates back to the final phase of World War II, when people evacuated from Okinawa and other southern islands to Miyazaki. Among them were craftsmen of Ryukyu lacquerware, who began producing lacquerware in Miyazaki. Over time, their techniques took root in the local environment and developed into Miyazaki Shikki, a distinctive lacquerware style well suited to the warm and humid climate that is ideal for repeatedly applying and drying layers of lacquer.

Later, the lacquerware production was taken over by the Social Welfare Corporation Miyazaki-ken Oshima Shinko Kyokai, and today it is carried on as Miyazaki Shikki Kobo. As explained on the BASE shop, the workshop is operated as a Type-B continuous employment support facility where people with disabilities participate in lacquerware production. It is introduced as a rare example of a welfare facility where traditional lacquerware making itself is the main vocational activity, combining the preservation of craft techniques with social welfare.

Articles on the workshop report that great emphasis is placed on the undercoating process. Wooden bases are carved from solid natural wood, and undercoating materials are applied and polished repeatedly before the final lacquer coats. This careful groundwork gives Miyazaki Shikki its substantial weight and durability, at a time when many lacquerware products on the market are made by spraying synthetic coatings onto plastic bases.

The Tsuikin decorative technique is another hallmark of Miyazaki lacquerware. Product pages for items such as letter boxes, writing boxes and compact cases explain that a lump of lacquer kneaded with pigments, called Tsuikin-mochi, is rolled out thinly, cut into patterns, then colored or carved and applied to the surface. Motifs include landscapes, flowers such as hibiscus, local plants like hamayu lilies and playful themes like haniwa clay figures, often described as reflecting the southern atmosphere of Miyazaki. This technique produces three-dimensional, colorful patterns that stand out vividly against the red and black lacquer.

The lineup includes not only letter boxes and writing boxes but also chopsticks, cake plates, party bowls and small compact cases that can be used for face powder or accessories. The official site notes that the workshop produces items for both everyday use and gifts, and local reports mention that Miyazaki lacquerware has long been used as wedding gifts and other commemorative presents in the region. Through its online shop on BASE and its showroom at the workshop (for which visitors are advised to contact in advance), Miyazaki Shikki Kobo shares the appeal of Miyazaki lacquerware with people inside and outside the prefecture.

Traditional craft of Miyazaki Prefecture made at a welfare-operated workshop

According to the official site and online shop, Miyazaki Shikki is designated as a traditional craft of Miyazaki Prefecture. The workshop produces a wide range of lacquerware including letter boxes, writing boxes, plates and chopsticks, using natural wood as the base and applying multiple layers of natural lacquer. The result is lacquerware with a characteristic soft gloss and a robust finish, designed both for daily use and as special gifts.

A Type-B continuous employment support facility focusing on lacquerware production

The ABOUT page of the BASE shop explains that Miyazaki Shikki Kobo is operated as a Type-B continuous employment support facility where people with disabilities work together on the production of Miyazaki lacquerware. As a welfare facility that has lacquerware making as a main vocational activity, it is described as a very rare example in Japan. The workshop thus fulfills a dual role: preserving traditional craft techniques and providing opportunities for social participation and employment.

Techniques rooted in Ryukyu lacquerware and the Tsuikin decorative method

Product descriptions and articles on Miyazaki lacquerware state that its origins lie in Ryukyu lacquerware brought to Miyazaki by craftsmen who were evacuated from Okinawa and other southern islands during the final stages of World War II. One of the key features is the decorative technique called Tsuikin, in which a block of lacquer kneaded with pigments is rolled out thinly, cut into patterns, colored or carved and then applied to the surface of the piece. Combined with repeatedly applied undercoats and careful polishing, this results in vivid, three-dimensional designs that stand out on the red and black lacquer surfaces.