Private Tour and Japanese-Urushi Lesson at Tsutsumi Asakichi Lacquer Shop

"Urushi", Japanese-lacquer: A Blessing of Nature

Tsutsumi Asakichi has been refining and working with urushi lacquer for more than a century in the center of the ancient city of Kyoto. Lacquerwork itself has been present in Japan for almost ten thousand years.

Tsutsumi Asakichi Lacquer’s sign

Tsutsumi Asakichi aims to preserve the tradition of Japanese-Urushi that has been handed down through countless generations while rising to meet the challenges of the modern world. Nowadays, the shop collaborates with a number of other businesses to create a wide range of delightful products. As part of the tour, guests can watch Japanese-urushi being refined and worked, and learn how to use Japanese-urushi to decorate their own fountain pen.

A Remarkable Workshop

The experience begins with a tour of the workshop. Japanese-Urushi lacquer begins as thick, poisonous tree sap. This is extremely precious — only about a pint can be collected from each tree when it is between ten and fifteen years old. Tsutsumi refines approximately 70% of all lacquer used in Japan, and accordingly has a vast amount in storage.

Displaying stored unrefined lacquer

Here, guests can observe the refining process as it happens.

Using cinnabar to create red lacquer

Mr. Tsutsumi, the company representative, guides guests through the steps required to refine Japanese-urushi, including regional variations in raw materials and the machines used in the process.

Mr. Tsutsumi, the company representative, guides guests through the steps required to refine Japanese-urushi, including regional variations in raw materials and the machines used in the process.

Everyday Utensils Made Extraordinarily

After exploring the workshop, guests are invited to select a wooden dining utensil — knife, fork, spoon, or chopsticks — and learn how to apply lacquer from a practicing artisan.

Japanese-urushi cutlery

Fuki-urushi (literally ‘wiping lacquer’) imbues wood with a rich luster and leaves it with a uniquely smooth, comfortable finish. Japanese-urushi lacquer as a material is also commonly used in joinery, both for wood and ceramics in arts like kintsugi.

A Personalized Fountain Pen

After familiarizing themselves with fuki-urushi technique, guests will move on to decorate a fountain pen. The pen itself is produced by local stationary brand Tag Stationary using ebony and brass.

Tag Stationary’s ‘Bunzome’ fountain pen

Lacquer is applied to paper, then rubbed gently into the wood.

Gently rubbing lacquer into the pen’s surface

The more lacquer is rubbed into the wooden surface, the more its color deepens. The lacquer sets quickly, and guests may take their pen home that day.

Laser engraving is also available

Japanese-urushi is one of humanity’s most ancient materials, and has a well-earned image of luxury. Having learned the process and technique behind fuki-urushi, guests are well-equipped to decorate other wooden items with lacquer. Each application adds another layer of beauty and depth to a well-loved object.