RAYS PLATE Round L Ai-Urushi＿A New Expression of Japanese Craft — Recipient of Two Awards
Ai-Urushi Creates a New Expression of Japanese Craft — Announcement of Two Award Wins
We are honored to announce that RAYS PLATE Round L Ai-Urushi, created by MORI KOUGEI, has received two awards this year.
- 5th Japanese Culture Grand Prix — UNITED ARROWS Award
https://jcpp.jp/2025unitedarrows-award/
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2nd DENTO Support Program
DENTO Awards — Craft Award (Product / Work)
https://dento-japan.co.jp/ja/2025/08/winners/
We are deeply grateful that the beauty of the materials we work with every day, along with our ongoing pursuit of both preservation and innovation in craftsmanship, has been recognized through these awards.
Where Indigo Meets Urushi —
The Expression of Ai-Urushi
Ai-Urushi is a new finishing expression born from the deep expertise in lacquer cultivated by Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store, combined with indigo produced in Tokushima.
The rich gloss and durability of urushi lacquer.
The calm and profound blue brought by indigo.
As these two materials overlap, they create a depth that cannot simply be described as color alone. Because they are natural materials, they contain subtle fluctuations and shifting expressions that change with the light. In this quiet presence resides the Japanese aesthetic of “beauty in shadow and subtlety.”
MORI KOUGEI layered this expression of Ai-Urushi with the regional story of Tokushima indigo, and fused it with our original “Kosen-Bari” (Rays Pattern) technique, elevating it into a singular work.
Capturing Light Through Wood Grain — The Technique of Kosen-Bari
The radial grain pattern that symbolizes the RAYS PLATE is created through Kosen-Bari, a technique in which veneer pieces are assembled outward from the center.
The grain of white sycamore spreads like rays of light, expressing the delicate beauty unique to veneer. It is one of MORI KOUGEI’s signature techniques.
Through its encounter with Ai-Urushi, the shifting quality of light becomes even deeper, and the harmony of wood, indigo, and lacquer creates a presence that is both quiet and powerful.
From Regional Craft to the Future — Connecting the Value of Materials
The Ai-Urushi Plate is a craft object created from natural materials: Tokushima indigo, Japanese urushi lacquer, and veneer. Behind it lies MORI KOUGEI’s philosophy: “Connecting the stories told by materials to the future.”
We hope to expand the possibilities of craft by making use of materials nurtured within the region. This vision became the foundation of the work that led to these awards.
Ai-Urushi is an expression with even greater future potential. Beyond tableware, we see possibilities for expanding into architecture, interior spaces, and spatial design.
Looking Ahead — Continuing Our Approach to Craftsmanship
These awards recognize not only our techniques, but also our sincere commitment to regional materials and craftsmanship. We will continue exploring how the beauty and potential of Japanese materials — indigo, lacquer, and wood — can be brought into contemporary life.
Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store, whose deep knowledge contributed greatly to the development of Ai-Urushi, and to everyone who continues to support our work.
MORI KOUGEI will continue pursuing forms of craftsmanship that connect tradition to the future.
