Wakasa lacquerware, which accounts for approximately 80% of the national chopstick production market share, is a general term for traditional lacquerware that originated in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, and continues to be passed down to this day. Its origins date back to the early Edo period. Matsuura Sanjuro, a lacquer craftsman in the service of the Obama domain, which flourished against the backdrop of trade along the Sea of Japan and a rich food culture, was inspired by "Zunxing," one of the Chinese lacquerware techniques, and devised "Kikujin-nuri," which expressed the scenery of the seabed of Wakasa Bay. This marked the beginning of a new technique that incorporated natural materials such as seashells, pine needles, and eggshells into the decoration. Kafuku Lacquerware's Wakasa lacquerware business card holder features various natural materials as patterns, stimulating dreams of the seabed. "It reminds us that the longing for the world of the sea and its beauty are universal. The jewel-like craftsmanship that stimulates imagination about the sea and the contrast with the lustrous black have a modern feel and a timeless appeal."Yumi Nakata）

• Size: W10.8 × D7 × H3.4 cm
• Contact: Kafuku Lacquerware Shop

*Prices may vary, so please check with each shop.

Select: Yumi Nakata Photo: Kohei Yamamoto Text: Shiyo Yamashita