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Lawrence Conley
Posted: Wed Feb 24 2010
Takehito Nakajima is a craftsman specializing in kiji wood ware, who does hand-made spheres or other decorative items with his several staff. For kiji lacquer ware, further processing is performed by a lacquer coating artisan. The process of fabricating a mass of wood into a dish, cup or sphere is far more difficult, as well as more time-consuming than one might imagine. A 20-minute demonstration available at the factory shows this.
Takehito Nakajima shares his thoughts on craftsmanship:
‘All the tools for making kiji wood ware are made ourselves. Each person takes care of their own tools to make them easier to use.’
‘I would like to try new things, while maintaining the techniques and tradition of Yamanaka's Rokuro hikimono (woodworker’s lathe) spanning 400 years of history.’
‘On site, it’s cold in winter and hot in summer, but I think I just have to make a steady effort.’
‘The latest works with the original designs have are made of hinoki cypress, and wood grain embossing on the surface. I think they can be used for serving rice or soup.’
228 He Sugatanimachi Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Telephone +81 76 178 1696
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