Tray-Carving Experience at a Workshop that Transforms Raw Lumber into Finished Lacquerware

Ninjo Family Craft: Paragon in Japanese Lacquerware

Lacquerware works have long been cherished as beautiful everyday tools in Japan. In fact, so closely associated is this craft with traditional vessels in Japanese daily life that European imitations of what the Japanese refer to as shikki (lacquerware) were long known in the Western world simply as “japan” (or “japanware”), and the Western imitation process of lacquering as “japanning.”

While brilliantly ornate luxury works of lacquerware are widely admired as fine art, the original purpose of the craft lies in producing sturdy vessels with understated elegance – and these more prosaic roles continue to captivate people across generations. Ninjo’s works are a perfect example of this: drawing attention both in Japan and abroad, they have even been featured in the 2021 book Savoir & Faire 木 (le livre) by the philanthropic organization Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, which promotes traditions of artisanal skill. Each of Ninjo’s pieces carries its own message, such as the devotion to craftsmanship he has inherited from his father (the great lacquer master Yoshikatsu Ninjo), or his profound respect for nature.

What makes the Ninjo family’s practice unique is its vertically-integrated approach: from sourcing raw lumber to cutting, carving, lacquering, and selling the final product. In the lacquerware industry, production is usually divided among specialists: wood workers, lacquerers, and decorative artists. While efficient, this system inevitably generates significant waste. Troubled by this reality, Yoshikatsu established a style centered on using every part of the tree without waste, to fully honor the gifts of nature.

A Deep Respect for the Life of Trees

In front of Ninjo’s workshop stands a storage facility housing dozens of tons of raw wood. The lumber is naturally dried over five to ten years, ensuring that finished pieces do not suffer from warping or shrinking. Each year, new wood is sourced with a ten-year outlook, and Ninjo’s production is limited to 2,000 pieces of lacquerware annually. “It’s an incredibly inefficient cycle,” he explains with a chuckle. Yet behind that seemingly ironic, self-effacing humor an unwavering belief in personal responsibility to each piece of wood from the beginning to the end of its life cycle – and to the trees they came from.

On the first floor, observe the initial wood selection and cutting process, as well as the shaping of the wood bases using an electric lathe, accompanied by Ninjo’s commentary. Each log’s grain, knots, cracks, and form are carefully examined to minimize waste. Shaping is done in two stages – inside and out – using various blades for a smooth finish. This half-year process must be completed before summer.

The Luxury of Personalization

Ninjo’s signature works are trays, bowls, and stacking dishes – standard items in the daily life of the Japanese – including of the Ninjo family themselves. In this experience, participants can freely carve a design into a flat tray – an ideal canvas for beginners. “Beautiful patterns will emerge as you carve, cutting perpendicular to the grain,” advises Ninjo as you proceed under his instruction, stroke by careful stroke.

Design your own carving freely, or choose to follow prepared templates. Feel your movements grow in confidence and bold expressiveness over time. Carving wood – especially a tray so beautifully shaped by a master like Ninjo – can become a meditation unto itself, embracing the soul in the generous spirit of trees.

Lacquer Finishing by Ninjo’s Own Hand　

Lacquering itself takes place during summer (July to October) under strictly controlled conditions. A constant temperature of 28° Celsius and humidity of 70 to 80% ensure optimal oxidation, hardening, and setting. The Ninjo family method involves brushing lacquer directly onto the base wood in four layers. With Ninjo’s first brushstroke, the once-shy grain instantly reveals itself in bold, vivid relief.

Different woods express different characters after lacquering. This experience uses chestnut, which is prized for its beautifully distinctive patterns. Japanese horse chestnut, on the other hand, is loved for its clean, understated beauty. Finished trays are shipped approximately two months after lacquering.

A Year in Wood

Over the course of Ninjo’s year, he cuts wood, shapes bases, carves vessels, and lacquers the finished products. “It’s a craft not unlike agriculture,” Ninjo says. Rather than instant on-demand production, the Ninjo family craft follows the patient rhythms of nature. It is in that devotion that the true value of their work lies. Visiting the workshop reveals why admirers are continually drawn to these vessels and the profound stories they embody.

Visiting the Ninjo workshop and encountering its philosophy is an irreplaceable experience. You may find yourself developing a new appreciation for the precious life of trees gifted from the mountains. As a special gift, you will also receive chopsticks made from Japanese cedar. Your tray and chopsticks may inspire you to slowly piece together your own collection of traditional Japanese daily tableware, one cherished piece at a time.