About Urushi

 Urushi (Japanese lacquer), 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.

Our goal is to pursue new possibilities created by the fusion of the beauty of urushi lacquer and TSUKI-ITA, and to make the everyday dining experience even more special.

Having lacquer products for your daily life – you can enrich your every day with PLATE, which combines Japanese tradition and modernism as well as Japanese beauty.

 

［History of Urushi］

The use of urushi dates back to about 9000years 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.Each region fostered its own distinctive urushi crafts, such as Kaga maki-e (Kaga gold lacquer) and Wajima-nuri (Wajima lacquering).

In modern times, urushi has come to be used not only in traditional crafts, but also in modern furniture, interior design, and art.

 

［Performance and Benefits of Urushi］

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.

 

 

・Naturally derived
Urushi is a natural sap, so of course it contains no added chemicals. It is an environmentally friendly, naturally derived, and sustainable material.

・Durability
When solidified, urushi forms an extremely hard coating with outstanding resistance to water, chemicals, and heat. It maintains the beauty and functionality of products for a long period of time.

・Antibacterial properties
Urushi has natural antibacterial properties, making it suitable for products where hygiene is important, such as tableware and furniture. This is a major characteristic of urushi that is not found in urethane coating.

・Unique luster and texture
Products made with urushi have a deep luster and warm texture. This unique beauty of urushi cannot be expressed with urethane coating.

・Repairability
Another feature of urushi is that it can be repaired even if scratched. This technique has been passed down through the long history of urushi.
 

［ Preserving the Beauty of Nature］

MORI KOUGEI decided to collaborate with “Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store” in Kyoto, which has the motto “Never waste a drop of urushi" from its collection to processing.

Because urushi is a natural sap, they have been engaged in activities to preserve nature and the environment and pass it onto the next generation.We selected the highest quality urushi and carefully applied it to the PLATE. The deep luster of the urushi accentuates the delicate grain of the wood and enhances the natural beauty of the wood.

 

［ Attractiveness of Urushi Products］

Vessels finished with urushi have a unique texture and become more unique the more they are used. This change over time is one of the unique pleasures of urushi. This is a characteristic not often seen in other materials.

 

 

［About Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store］

Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store has been refining urushi since its establishment in 1909. Urushi is a precious gift of nature. Only about one milk bottle (200cc) of urushi can be extracted from a mature tree that is 10 to 15 years old.

（200cc）Thus, the company's motto, "Never waste a drop of urushi," has been passed down from generation to generation for more than a century.

Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store provides a wide range of urushi products in various specialties, including lacquerware, tea ceremony utensils, Buddhist altars, Buddhist ritual implements, restoration of national treasures and important cultural properties, restoration of general shrine and temple buildings, Nishijin-ori textiles, furniture, bamboo crafts, and Gagaku (ancient Japanese court music) musical instruments. Although the kind of urushi differs according to the way it is used, depending on the specialty and production area, the conditions and environment, and the preferences of the craftsman, it can be refined to meet a wide variety of needs, including the adjustment of drying time, viscosity, color and luster.

Refining techniques and equipment have advanced with the times, increasing the production volume and speed, but the spirit of "not wasting a single drop of urushi" remains unchanged.

 In order to pass on urushi culture to the next generation, the company is also focusing on activities to broaden its base, such as planting lacquer trees in the suburbs of Kyoto. They also focus on the people who are involved with the trees and promote the appeal of the materials as well as the finished products made with urushi.

Und.」As part of this effort, they opened their flagship store "Und." in April 2024. It includes a store specializing in lacquerware, a space for events and workshops, and a lacquerware studio.

It also produces a wide variety of urushi products, including surfboards, skateboards, and bicycle frames.

https://www.tsutsumi-urushi.com/urushix

 

 

 

［New Japanese Contemporary Crafts Created by TSUKI-ITA and Urushi］

MORI KOUGEI has been proposing various designs by not only attaching beautifully grained TSUKI-ITA, but also by composing patterns using the grain of the wood.

The PLATE, created by utilizing the techniques and experience we have cultivated over the years, is a product of our commitment to make the most of the rippled pattern of white sycamore.

We also chose an appropriate coating to make the grain of the wood look beautiful while considering daily use at the dining table, not to mention serving food, and daily maintenance. One of these was "urushi," which has the highest performance and cultural value as a topcoat.

We wanted to use 100% natural materials, and we had considered using urushi from the beginning. But we were concerned that the grain of the wood would disappear after being coated with urushi....

In our search for a urushi-finished product that would bring out the grain of the wood, we were fortunate to have a chance to work with Mr. Tsutsumi. Through repeated trial and error, we were able to create a product that accentuated the beauty of the wood grain pattern. By applying urushi, the beauty of the rippled pattern of white sycamore was further accentuated.

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 sumi-urushi finished wooden tray will gain a moist luster and depth of color.

 

Japanese traditional crafts are highly regarded around the world for their delicate beauty and exquisite techniques. The PLATE, which utilizes the "pasting" technique of TSUKI-ITA, and is finished with urushi, aims to be one of the best examples of new Japanese contemporary craftsmanship that follows the traditional techniques.

Reinterpreting a material with a long history to suit modern lifestyles and creating new value–MORI KOUGEI has taken a new step toward the future of crafts by bringing a traditional Japanese material into the modern age.

In the future, we intend to develop not only this PLATE but also other products using urushi, which is one of the prides of Japan.