Kutani
Kutani Ware History: Ko-Kutani, Yoshidaya, and Japan Kutani
Kutani village history, Arita evidence for Ko-Kutani-style porcelain, Yoshidaya’s revival, and Meiji exports—without dating objects from style or marks alone.
The Journal
Urushi Studies
漆
The craft of Japanese lacquer — the trees, the technique, and the workshops keeping urushi alive.
-
Hida Shunkei: The Transparent Lacquer That Shows the Wood
Hida Shunkei lacquerware from Takayama: visible wood grain, warm transparent urushi, yellow and red grounds, and practical care.
-
Negoro-nuri: Japan's Red-and-Black Lacquer Tradition
Negoro lacquer’s red-over-black surface, its connection with Negoro-ji, the patina of historical objects, and care for modern lacquerware.
-
Chinkin: The Sunken-Gold Carving of Wajima Lacquerware
Chinkin decorates lacquer with engraved lines and points filled with gold leaf or powder. Explore Wajima’s technique, provenance, and care.
-
Tsugaru-nuri: Aomori's Layered, Polished Urushi Lacquerware
Tsugaru-nuri from Aomori: layered and polished urushi, the kara, nanako, monsha, and nishiki styles, and care for lacquerware in everyday...
-
Yamanaka Lacquerware: Japan's Wood-Turned Urushi Tradition
Explore Yamanaka lacquerware: woodturning, grain-revealing urushi, tea utensils, and the distinction between traditional wooden work and modern resin products.
-
Maki-e: The Japanese Art of Sprinkled-Gold Lacquer
Maki-e lacquer decoration: Nara-period roots, flat, polished and raised techniques, provenance, and care for sprinkled-gold work.
-
Kishu Lacquerware: Wakayama’s Everyday Craft Tradition
Kishu lacquerware from Wakayama: Kuroe, Negoro finishes, traditional wood and urushi, modern resin products, and care based on each piece’s...
-
Wajima-nuri: The Foundations of an Urushi Lacquerware Tradition
How Wajima-nuri is built, from cloth reinforcement and ji-no-ko foundations to plain lacquer, chinkin and maki-e, with advice on choosing...
Journal
ゼンキルン 誌
Japanese craft, everyday use and care
Craft & Kilns
Deep dives into kilns, glazes, and the wares behind them.
Care & Guides
Practical reading for the pieces you use every day.
Series
Four collections of stories on tea bowls, lacquer, color and care.
All Stories
Browse the Journal, newest first. For our specialist collections, visit Series above.
Craft & Kilns
Kutani Ware History: Ko-Kutani, Yoshidaya, and Japan Kutani
At the Table
Japanese Hot Pot Table: Donabe, Tonsui Bowls, and Renge
Lucky Cats
Red Lucky Cat Meaning (Maneki Neko): Protection and Health
Lucky Cats
Gold and Yellow Maneki Neko: Different Colours, Different Wishes
Lucky Cats
Green Maneki Neko Meaning: Study and Examination Wishes
Craft & Kilns
Edo Kiriko: Tokyo Cut Glass, Its Patterns and Care
Craft & Kilns
Hagi Ware: Yamaguchi Tea Ceramics and the Seven Changes
Craft & Kilns
Hasami Ware: Nagasaki Porcelain for Everyday Tables
Craft & Kilns