Tsugaru Lacquerware

This is a type of lacquerware made mainly in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. It began when the Tsugaru Domain employed lacquerer Ikeda Genbei from Wakasa Province (Fukui Prefecture) during the Kanbun era (1661-73) in the early Edo period, and his son Gentaro, who succeeded him, further solidified the foundations of the craft. Because the lacquerware is so sturdy, it is also known by the name "baka-nuri" (idiot-like lacquerware). The products are mainly everyday items such as low tables, stacked boxes, trays, bowls, chopsticks, and tea ceremony utensils, and the base material is made of hiba wood, a local specialty of the prefecture. The base material is coated with raw lacquer to create a base, and then repeatedly coated with a mixture of raw lacquer, rice paste, and grinding powder. The lacquerware is made using the Honkataji method. Since receiving certification under the Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Act in 1975, it has played a part in promoting local industries, and the basic certified technique of overlaying includes four techniques: the ancient technique of Kara-nuri, as well as Nanako-nuri, Monsha-nuri, and Nishiki-nuri. All of these involve applying multiple coats of colored lacquer to a textured base and grinding it down with a locally produced Daikiyoishi whetstone to create a pattern.

[Goka loyal retainer]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

青森県弘前(ひろさき)市を中心に生産される変塗りの漆器。江戸前期の寛文(かんぶん)年間（1661～73）に津軽藩が若狭(わかさ)国（福井県）の塗師(ぬし)池田源兵衛を召し抱えたことから始まり、その後を継いだ子の源太郎がさらにその基礎を固めた。非常に堅固な塗り物であるため、別名「馬鹿(ばか)塗」の名でも親しまれている。製品は座卓、重箱、盆、椀(わん)、箸(はし)、茶道具など生活用具が主体で、素地(きじ)には県特産のヒバ材が用いられる。素地に生漆(きうるし)を塗って下地とし、さらに地(じ)の粉(こ)・米糊(こめのり)・砥(と)の粉と生漆を混ぜたものを繰り返し塗り重ねる本堅地造(ほんかたじづくり)の製法が行われる。1975年（昭和50）伝統的工芸品産業振興法の認定を受けて以来、地方産業振興の一翼を担っているが、基本となる認定技法の上(うわ)塗りは、古技法とよばれる唐塗(からぬり)のほかに、七々子(ななこ)塗、紋紗(もんしゃ)塗、錦(にしき)塗の四技法が用いられており、いずれも凹凸をつけた下地に彩(いろ)漆を塗り重ね、地元産の大清石砥石で研ぎ出して文様を表すものである。

［郷家忠臣］

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