About Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)

Manufacturing and Craftsmanship by MORI KOUGEI

Since its establishment in 1953, MORI KOUGEI, based in Tokushima, Japan, has specialized in “pasting” TSUKI-ITA, a wood sliced as thin as paper. The workshop has produced materials for decorative plywood, fixtures, furniture, and other products.

In 2020, MORI KOUGEIstarted developing and manufacturing our own original products such as TRAY, STAND, and CLOCK. While utilizing the technology that we have cultivated over the years, we are working on “manufacturing that fits the times.”

We sought a new finish for PLATE, which is popular both domestically and internationally, that combines beauty and durability while being derived from natural materials. In collaboration with “Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store,” we created a new "Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer).”

Seeking a New Kind of Lacquer

“If we could create something new by combining indigo and lacquer...”

 

This was the wish of not only MORI KOUGEI, but also Takuya Tsutsumi, the fourth-generation owner of “Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store,” who is also involved in activities to pass on Urushi lacquer to the next generation.

He encountered indigo, which isknown as one of Tokushima's traditional industries, through his interactions with people involved in crafts in Shikoku including Tokushima.  He then began to develop indigo lacquer out of a very purely curious quest. This happened during the period known as Covid pandemic disaster.

At that time, he was introduced to a researcher at the “Tokushima Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center.” And Mr. Tsutsumi got some samples of the precipitated indigo, and he began the development of “indigo lacquer.”

What is Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)?

“Ai-urushi (indigo lacquer)” is a ‘lacquer’ made by literally multiplying the pigment ‘indigo.’ Ai is a plant that produces “indigo” color. Urushi lacquer is a sap that, when solidified, forms an extremely hard coating. Both are derived from nature and have been used in Japan since ancient times.

 

When we look into whether there was any lacquer using indigo in the past, we find that there is a traditional Japanese color called “blue lacquer (seishitsu).” However, this color is said to be a “deep, austere green.” Blue lacquer is originally a kind of colored lacquer, and is made by adding indigo wax etc., which is extracted from indigo plants, or by mixing black lacquer with yellow lacquer, which gives the lacquer a greenish color. ^*1It seems that they were combining indigo and lacquer with different “colors” and “methods” than what MORI KOUGEI and Mr. Tsutsumi were working on. Although the times and colors are different, we can see that we have arrived at the same thought: “create something by combining indigo and lacquer.”

<Quotes>

*1　伝統色のいろは®　Traditional Colors of Japan　https://irocore.com/

Repeated Trial and Error

Mr. Tsutsumi's development of indigo lacquer, which began out of curiosity rather than research, was not a straightforward process.

 

He was able to make indigo lacquer successfully with the powdered precipitated indigo that was provided as a sample at the very beginning. However, precipitated indigo is basically sold in “liquid” form. When he mixed precipitated indigo liquid with lacquer, it would not dry and thus could not be used.... He found out that “indigo lacquer” could not be made unless he dried the liquid into powder form before mixing it with lacquer.

 

Realizing that it is important to have “indigo powder” to mix with lacquer, Mr. Tsutsumi obtained indigo from various people and places.  He tried to mix various kinds of indigo with lacquer in a variety of ways.  He had been making indigo lacquer not only with Tokushima indigo, but also with Indian indigo, etc., to improve the perfection of this new kind of lacquer. However, after much time and effort and development, both MORI KOUGEI and Mr. Tsutsumi insisted on using Tokushima-grown precipitated indigo for the indigo lacquer, saying “We want to stick with using Tokushima indigo.

 

Lacquer, which is a natural tree sap, is brown in color. Mr. Tsutsumi's indigo lacquer is a deep, beautiful dark blue color that is created by combining the naturally occurring indigo color with the lacquer. The TSUKI-ITA that MORI KOUGEI prepares for RAYS PLATE and RAYS TRAY with this indigo lacquer is white sycamore, which is a white type of wood with an interesting and complex grain. We are particular about the coloring of the wood, because we believe that deep colors are best for bringing out the character of wood.  “Lacquer and indigo are both natural materials. We try to produce deep colors, but the depth and the hue are not always the same. We think this is one of the attractions of natural materials.”

 

Ai-Urushi, is created using lacquer and indigo, two traditional and natural materials that are representative of Japan. And to create Ai-Urushi with Tokushima's indigo, which is synonymous with the local traditional industry, to represent MORI KOUGEI’s products. Both Mr. Tsutsumi and MORI KOUGEI feel that these points have great significance.

 

Mr. Tsutsumi says,

“I feel once again that the act of creating something new by bringing natural materials and people together is fascinating. In addition to this, the act of creating something from natural materials and turning it into color is important, all while keeping an eye on traditional industries that the region is proud of and wants to preserve for the next generation. I went through a lot of trial and error to create indigo lacquer this time, and I would like to express its charm through the products rather than the indigo lacquer itself.”

Importance of Finishing Methods

The finishing method used for PLATE by MORI KOUGEI is “Fuki-Urushi (wiping/rubbing lacquer).” The lacquer used for indigo lacquer is raw lacquer, which cannot be applied with a brush because it is not processed lacquer. Therefore, raw lacquer is carefully applied in the form of “wiping” and “rubbing.” However, it is not simply wiped or rubbed with lacquer, but is completed by a detailed process of polishing and matting. Moreover, the lacquer used is not only indigo lacquer, but depending on the process, only raw lacquer is used, or a different mixture of lacquer is layered, etc., in an effort to “show off” the wood while preserving its good qualities. The simple application of “wiping/rubbing lacquer” can completely hide the grain of the wood, so a lacquered PLATE is finished with a very delicate technique.

Why We Choose Ai-Urushi

TSUKI-ITA is paper-thin sliced of wood. It is very important to carefully choose the type of finish coating for products made of this wood. This is because the practicality of the product must be ensured by coating it with paint.

Therefore, we decided that lacquer, a natural material that is also an extremely high performance coating for vessels and tableware, would be the most ideal material to use.

We also are aware of the value and significance of MORI KOUGEI, based in Tokushima, producing a new type of wood product by creating "Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)," which is a combination of the natural indigo produced in Tokushima and lacquer, and using it as a finish.

 

Natural materials with natural finishes.

We hope that the Ai-Urushi PLATE will be loved by many people not only in Japan but also around the world.

●About Urushi

Urushi, or Japanese lacquer, is one of the best performing finishes in the world and has the highest cultural value.

The sap from the Japanese lacquer tree is a natural material that has been used for thousands of years in Japan.

Known for its durability, water resistance, and beautiful luster, urushi has been used since ancient times to finish tableware, furniture, and works of art. It has been refined throughout history.

The use of urushi dates back to about 9,000 years ago. Later, during the Heian period (late 8th century to late 12th century), lacquerware was widely used in aristocratic society, and urushi crafting developed greatly during this era. In particular, from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) to the Edo period (1603-1868), lacquerware became widely used in daily life and a variety of techniques were developed.

Urushi is a natural sap that, when solidified, forms an extremely hard coating.

This coating is water- and heat-resistant, as well as antibacterial. It retains its beauty for a long time in daily use.

It can be used to serve food directly and can be washed with water. This means it is easy to clean and maintain.

One of the characteristics of lacquer is its ability to change in transparency and color over time, which is one of its charms. With daily use and repeated care, the urushi finished wooden products will gain a moist luster and depth of color. This unique beauty of urushi cannot be expressed with urethane coating.

●About Indigo in Tokushima

Tokushima Prefecture, where MORI KOUGEI is based, is the largest producer of indigo dye in Japan. The traditional technique of “Awa-Ai (Indigo of Tokushima) manufacturing,” which was nationally selected as a conservation technique, is still being passed down today.

Awa-Ai refers to the indigo dye, called sukumo, which is produced in Awa (the old name for Tokushima). The high skill and quality of the indigo produced in Tokushima dominated the national market in the 18th century. Even today, craftsmen called “aishi (indigo master)” continue to make sukumo using traditional methods.

The famous “Awa Odori” dance was also developed under the influence of the performing arts in other domains or prefectures, and was introduced to Tokushima by the indigo merchants who flourished in the Edo period.

Tokushima has such a deep connection with indigo that it is no exaggeration to say that it is the "home of indigo.”

MORI KOUGEI has long wanted to make use of this indigo in the production of its products. We have also produced TRAYs and PLATEs dyed with the traditional dyeing method called “Hakko-date,” which uses only natural materials and does not use any chemicals.

And now, we have created “Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer),” which is a combination of “urushi (Japanese lacquer),” a typical Japanese finish, and “Ai (indigo),” which is synonymous with Tokushima.Our products made with indigo lacquer evoke a sense of Japanese history and tradition.

●About Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)

Natural materials with natural finishes.

“Ai-urushi (indigo lacquer)” is ‘lacquer’ made by literally multiplying the pigment ‘indigo’.

Ai is a plant that produces “indigo” color. Urushi lacquer is a sap that, when solidified, forms an extremely hard coating.

Ai-Urushi, a collaboration between MORI KOUGEI and Tsutsumi Asakichi Lacquer Shop, was created using indigo grown and produced in Tokushima.
The color of Ai-urushi, which is made by mixing natural indigo powder with natural raw lacquer, is an indescribable deep dark blue color made by combining the indigo color and the brown of the lacquer.The depth and the hue of the color can vary depending on the time and occasion, which is another attraction of these natural materials.

Each MORI KOUGEI’s lacquer-finished product is completed with a very delicate “Fuki-Urushi (wiping/rubbing lacquer)” technique one by one that preserves the good qualities of the TSUKI-ITA wood while “showing off the grain” of the wood.

RAYS PLATE Round L Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)

Round RaysTray S　Ai-Urushi (indigo lacquer)