Story Behind Creation of Japanese Lacquer Sheet
Through discussion to discussion, we gave ideas from both the nail technician’s and the artisan’s viewpoints, and this lacquer sheet was materialized after many times of adjustment.
The point was how we should reinvent the lacquer, which is originally used for coating timber, and embed it in nails.
After trials and errors in an effort to make it a thin sheet, we realized a film-like texture suitable for nail art.
The material is so thin that it doesn’t get thick when put on the nail tips as nail art. So, we can add a beautiful touch to nail art by applying an appropriate method.
Ten Thousand Years of Japanese Lacquer History
Japanese lacquer has a long history — it was already used for ornaments in the Jomon period, some 10,000 years ago.
As Buddhism was introduced in the Asuka/Nara period, it started to be used for Buddhist altar fittings and temples including paintings using lacquer.
In the Kamakura and Muromachi period, a lacquer ware industry thrived, and daily tableware used by aristocrats was lacquered.
In the Edo period, lacquering further prospered along with other various cultures, and lacquer ware began to be produced as a local specialty nationwide.
A variety of lacquering methods are used for the “inro” seal case, which is well-known for Mito Komon.
As trades with foreign countries became active due to the opening of the country, delicate, vivid lacquer ware became very popular and Japanese lacquer and lacquer ware began being called Japan.
In the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa era, however, demand for costly lacquer ware dropped sharply under the influence of modernization triggered by Industrial Revolution, wars and others. Subsequent high economic growth boosted demand for lacquer ware again, but today, it is declining due to repercussions of successor shortage.
