Yamanaka Lacquerware: Her Master Made Her Cry — Then Called Her Work 'Popular'

I was told that I had a low level. I was pushed in front of my eyes. I was very frustrated and cried a lot. There were times like that. Traditional craft that has been made in this region for 400 years, that is Yamanaka lacquerware. Yamanaka lacquerware features a wide variety of vessels created using various techniques. One of its major characteristics is its tasteful design that highlights the natural grain of the wood. While many lacquerwares apply thick layers of colored lacquer over a base, clear, raw lacquer without added color is repeatedly applied and wiped off to bring out the flavor of the wood grain. Also, while logs are generally cut horizontally into boards for material, Yamanaka frequently uses a cutting method called Tategi, vertical wood, where sliced logs are cut vertically. As you can tell from the way the annual rings are aligned, the wood fibers run vertically, resulting in a durable vessel with minimal warping. The production process is broadly divided into the woodturner, carving out the vessel on a lathe. After that, the lacquerers, Nushi, apply the base coat and top coat to complete it. Wood shaped on a lathe is called turned woodware, Hikamono. And in the past, woodturners in this area competed with their skills, developing it into one of Japan's leading lacquerware producing areas. During that time, techniques such as decorative turning were also born. And Yamanaka's turned woodware is designated as an intangible cultural asset of Ishikawa Prefecture. Here's a young person trying to preserve the tradition of Yamanaka lacquerware. Yamanaka lacquerware woodturner, Eiko Tanaka. Born in Aichi Prefecture, Tanaka has been good with her hands since childhood. She became interested in lacquerware in high school, and majored in lacquer coating and lacquer art in college. Initially, she was applying lacquer to wooden bases made by craftsmen, but the shapes were different from what she had envisioned. She felt she wanted to create them herself, starting from the shape, and sew. After graduating from college, Tanaka entered the Yamanaka Lacquerware Training Institute, the only place in Japan where one can learn how to make wooden bases using a lathe. There, she was able to learn techniques directly from active woodturners. This is Tanaka's work from her days at the training institute. She had reached a level where she could make magnificent vessels that brought out the wood grain, but she wanted to improve her skills even further. That's when she became an apprentice to Master Toruo Nakajima. Mr. Nakajima, who has been selected many times for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, speaks about Tanaka at that time as follows. Numerous products are made every day in Mr. Nakajima's workshop. The precision of the finish and the speed of completion exceeded Tanaka's expectations. In 2012, Tanaka became independent. Alongside her work as a woodturner, she is creating her own pieces. What kind of pieces is it this time? Because it is too soft to carve on a lathe, it is a material that woodturners typically dislike. However, Tanaka is intentionally trying to make a vessel that takes advantage of this pattern. To carve brittle wood, the only way is to apply water to the surface and carve it little by little. For that, the sharpness of the kana is crucial. Sharpening and carving, she refines the shape just a tiny bit at a time. If I make a mistake, it is a waste. I can only carve one piece, so I can't use it. But I don't think I should blame myself. That is important. And the spalted vessel was completed. The sides are finished with a white lacquer typical of Yamanaka lacquerware. The inside is a finish that takes advantage of the spalted wood. No two patterns are the same. She has her master look at her work. In pursuit of her own shape, she came to an unfamiliar land. There she met people, learned. And a little bit of her own path has become visible. Giving shape to the heart. Opening the door to tomorrow, she takes another step closer to her dream. Thank you for watching.