Awarded twice in 2025.
The blue where Tokushima indigo and urushi lacquer converge.
Recipient of the United Arrows Award at the Japan Wa-Culture Grand Prix (Japan Wa-Culture Promotion Project) and the Craft Award at the DENTO Awards (NPO DENTO), both in 2025. The radial grain of the Rays pattern takes on a singular expression through ai-urushi — a finish that layers Awa indigo with natural urushi lacquer.
SPEC
[Size] Round L: Φ360 mm × H 12 mm (approx. 14⅛" × ½")
[Wood species] White Sycamore
A wood renowned for its ripple figure. The radial spread of this shimmer, combined with the depth of ai-urushi, generates a surface of unusual complexity.
[Finish] Ai-urushi — Awa indigo × natural urushi lacquer
MADE IN JAPAN
— Awards —
United Arrows Award — Japan Wa-Culture Grand Prix (2025, 5th edition)
Organizer: Japan Wa-Culture Promotion Project
Category: Craft & Art / Woodwork
Juror comment (Maiko Tamura, Brand Director, TABAYA by United Arrows):
"A beautiful work in which skill, material, and sensibility are expressed at the highest level — and one that I can easily imagine finding its place in our customers' daily lives."
→ View award details
Craft Award — DENTO Awards (2025, 2nd DENTO Support Program)
Organizer: NPO DENTO
Juror comments:
"Advancing traditional techniques to create new value is exactly what contemporary craft most needs today."
"A work of high completion that brings a freshness of texture unlike anything seen before."
→ View award details
What is Ai-urushi?
Ai-urushi (藍漆) is a finish that combines powdered natural indigo — Awa-ai from Tokushima — with raw urushi lacquer. The translucent blue of the indigo merges with the deep luster of the lacquer, creating a complex color that neither material could achieve alone.
The blue dissolves into the black of the urushi: seen from one angle, it reads as deep navy; from another, a translucent, atmospheric blue. No two viewpoints reveal the same face. That inexhaustible depth is the essence of ai-urushi.
With use, the lacquer film deepens in richness and sheen. → Learn more about ai-urushi
About the Indigo
Awa indigo is Tokushima Prefecture's celebrated natural dye. Used in Japan since at least the Edo period, when it was said that "Awa indigo is the finest in the land," the craft of tadeai (Japanese indigo) cultivation is now registered as an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The tadeai plant requires handwork at every stage — cultivation, harvest, and fermentation into sukumo. This product uses Awa indigo sourced from a Tokushima producer who handles the full process, from cultivation through to vat preparation.
About the Lacquer
Natural urushi lacquer has been used in Japan for over 10,000 years — a material resistant to acids, alkalis, and heat, and one that deepens in richness and sheen with every use. The ai-urushi finish uses natural urushi in cooperation with Tsutsumi Asagichi Urushi-ten, Kyoto. → Learn more about urushi lacquer
The Rays Pattern
Thin-sliced wood veneer is cut into triangles and arranged radially from the center — a technique known as Rays (光線貼り). The sunburst pattern interacts with White Sycamore's directional shimmer, and as the radial grain sinks into the ai-urushi and rises again under light, the essential character of RAYS PLATE ai-urushi reveals itself.
Care Instructions
- After washing, wipe dry immediately with a soft cloth.
- Do not leave wet; prolonged moisture may cause warping or cracking.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight and locations with extreme changes in temperature or humidity.
- Do not leave oily or strongly colored foods on the surface for extended periods.
- Not suitable for use in microwave ovens, dishwashers, or refrigerators.
- Once fully cured, urushi lacquer does not typically cause skin reactions — however, in rare cases, allergic responses may occur. If so, please consult a medical professional.
- Please note that slight variations in color and tone are inherent to the natural materials used in ai-urushi. Each piece is one of a kind.
Q&A — Care & Usage
Q1: What is the ai-urushi (indigo lacquer) finish?
A1: Ai-urushi is a finish that combines powdered natural Awa indigo (from Tokushima) with raw urushi lacquer. The translucent blue of the indigo and the deep luster of the lacquer produce a complex color neither could achieve alone. With use, the lacquer deepens in richness and sheen. Please note that once fully cured, the lacquer does not typically cause skin reactions — however, in rare cases, allergic responses may occur. If so, please consult a medical professional.
Q2: Can I wash it with water?
A2: Yes. Please wipe dry immediately after washing and avoid leaving it wet.
Q3: Is it dishwasher-safe?
A3: Hand-washing is recommended. Please do not use a dishwasher.
Q4: Can I use it in a microwave?
A4: No. As a wood product, it is not microwave-safe.
Q5: Is direct sunlight a problem for storage?
A5: Direct sunlight can cause warping, cracking, and fading. Please store away from direct sunlight.
Q6: Can surface scratches be repaired?
A6: Minor scratches to the lacquer film may be repairable. Deep scratches, cracks, or warping cannot be restored.
Q7: Can I serve warm food on it?
A7: It is designed for food at room temperature to hand-warm. Please avoid very high temperatures.
Q8: The color looks different from the photo — is this normal?
A8: Yes. Ai-urushi combines natural materials and slight variations in color and tone are a deliberate and inherent quality of each piece.
— Shipping —
Domestic Shipping (Japan)
◉ For rates and details, please visit this page.
◉ Orders are dispatched on weekdays only. No weekend or holiday shipping.
International Shipping
◉ We ship worldwide to most destinations.
◉ Shipping rates vary by region and weight. For details, please visit this page.
◉ Any import duties or taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
