RAYS PLATE Round L Ai-Urushi＿A New Expression of Japanese Craft — Recipient of Two Awards
A New Expression of Japanese Craft — Recipient of Two Awards**
We are pleased to announce that our RAYS PLATE Round L Ai-Urushi has been honored with two prestigious awards this year:
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The 5th Japan Traditional Culture Grand Prix – UNITED ARROWS Award
https://jcpp.jp/2025unitedarrows-award/
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The 2nd DENTO Support Program
DENTO Awards: Craft Award (Product/Work)
https://dento-japan.co.jp/ja/2025/08/winners/
This recognition reflects the value of our ongoing pursuit—to reveal the inherent beauty of natural materials through craftsmanship, while passing tradition into the future with a spirit of innovation.
Where Indigo Meets Urushi — The Emergence of a New Aesthetic
Ai-Urushi is a contemporary finishing expression created through the expertise of Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Shop, a renowned lacquer studio with deep knowledge of traditional urushi techniques.
By integrating Tokushima indigo into the finishing process, Ai-Urushi achieves a quiet yet profound blue tone layered with the depth, gloss, and durability unique to lacquer.
The surface gently shifts with the movement of light.
Its depth cannot be captured by color alone; it embodies a refined sensibility rooted in the Japanese appreciation for shadow and subtlety.
At Mori Kougei, we embraced this Ai-Urushi expression and combined it with Tokushima’s indigo story and our signature woodworking technique, shaping it into a piece that reflects both place and craft.
Light Unfolds in Wood Grain — The Technique of Kosen-Bari
The radiating pattern that defines the RAYS PLATE is created using Mori Kougei’s unique method,
Kosen-Bari, in which thin slices of wood veneer are laid outward from the center like streams of light.
The delicate grain of white sycamore expands with a natural rhythm,
and when paired with the depth of Ai-Urushi, the plate reveals a quiet yet striking presence.
Wood, indigo, and lacquer—three natural materials—interact to form an expression that is both serene and powerful.
Craft Weaving the Future — Enriching the Value of Local Materials
The Ai-Urushi Plate is crafted from natural Japanese materials: Tokushima indigo, urushi lacquer, and wood veneer.
Behind this work lies a belief central to Mori Kougei:
“Every material carries a story worth passing on.”
By drawing from the region’s resources and reinterpreting them for contemporary craft,
we aim to extend the possibilities of traditional techniques and create works rooted in both heritage and innovation.
Ai-Urushi continues to offer new potential,
and we envision developing the series not only as tableware but into applications for interiors and architectural spaces as well.
Looking Ahead — Continuing Our Commitment to Craft
These awards affirm not only our craftsmanship, but also our dedication to working sincerely with regional materials and traditional techniques.
How can the quiet beauty of indigo, urushi, and wood be brought meaningfully into modern life?
Mori Kougei will continue to explore this question with care and intention.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Shop for their expertise in Ai-Urushi,
and to all who support our work and our journey.
We remain committed to creating craft that
bridges tradition and the future.
