woodworkJuly 22, 2026

Hida Shunkei

Hida Shunkei (飛騨春慶) is a woodwork produced in Takayama City and Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, since the early Edo period, with one founding date recorded as 1606 (Keicho 11). It was designated as a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on February 17, 1975. The craft combines the skills of a kijishi (woodworker), who creates wooden bases that showcase natural wood grain, and a nushi (lacquerer), who applies transparent lacquer to bring out the inherent qualities of the wood. Main products include flat items such as trays, magemono (confectionery boxes and jubako), and turned items such as tea saucers.

History

The Hida region developed woodworking skills by utilizing its rich forest resources from as early as the 8th century Asuka period, producing many skilled craftsmen known as Hida no Takumi. The Taiho Code recorded that Hida Province was exempted from standard taxation, and instead was required to provide ten craftsmen to serve the imperial court. By the early Heian period, the Engishiki records the number of craftsmen from Hida as having increased to 1,000.

Hida Shunkei is generally traced to the early Edo period when master carpenter Takahashi Kizaemon, struck by the grain of a piece of sawara wood he had accidentally split, fashioned it into a tray and presented it to lord Kanamori Shigechika. Kanamori Shigechika then had the official lacquerer Narita Sanemon finish the tray with transparent lacquer, an event considered the origin of Hida Shunkei. One recorded founding date for this event is 1606 (Keicho 11). Two theories exist regarding the name Shunkei: one holds that Kanamori Yoshishige gave the name because the lacquer's yellow glaze resembled the ceramic Hi-shunkei tea jar by potter Kato Kageyuki; another holds that the name derives from the season of spring (haru) at the time the tray was presented.

In 1692 (Genroku 5), the Kanamori clan was transferred to Kaminoyama Domain in Dewa Province (present-day Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture), and Hida Province became shogunate territory. Following this transfer, Hida Shunkei spread beyond Hida Province, and by the end of the Edo period, wholesalers had appeared, making it a craft accessible to common people. During the Meiji period, the number of craftsmen rapidly increased.

In 1973, the private museum Hida Takayama Shunkei Kaikan opened to display the Hida Shunkei collection of lumber processing company manager Nagase Kiyoshi. The museum operated for 41 years as a tourist attraction before closing at the end of July 2014 due to lack of a successor and stagnant visitor numbers.

In 2013, as part of the Hida Takayama Cultural Arts Festival, Italian luthier Ricardo Bergonzi's four string instruments were finished with Hida Shunkei lacquer technique by craftsman Kumazaki Nobuyuki. In April 2016, the Agency for Cultural Affairs certified Skills and Spirit of Hida Craftsmen—1,300 Years of Living with Wood, applied by Takayama City, as a Japan Heritage site; Hida Shunkei is one of 19 elements comprising that certified story. Also in 2016, the first female craftsman in 22 years joined the tradition as a successor to Hida Shunkei, a woman from Chiba Prefecture who represented the first new apprentice in 40 years.

Techniques & Production Process

Hida Shunkei is distinguished by two principal techniques: magemono, which involves shaping flat boards into three-dimensional forms, and sukiurushi, a transparent lacquer application that highlights the natural beauty of wood grain. Three wood-base surface techniques are employed: warime (using wood split along the grain), hime (artificially peeling the soft part of the grain), and kannname (carving line patterns with a plane).

Different wood species are selected according to the item type. For turned items (hikimono), tochi (Japanese horse chestnut) is used; for sashimono and magemono, hinoki (Japanese cypress) and sawara (Sawara cypress) are used.

The production process proceeds through several stages. In the kijigotame (wood-fixing) step, juice extracted from the wood surface or tartrazine is used for coloring, and soy milk or casein is applied to prevent the dried wood base from absorbing excess moisture. For coloring, auramine pigment (yellow) or rhodamine pigment (red) is used as a dye. In the suriurushi step, transparent sukiurushi—made by adding perilla oil (enyu) to raw lacquer—is applied thinly; the ratio of perilla oil to lacquer changes depending on the number of coats applied. In the togi (polishing) step, tokusa (horsetail plant) moistened with water is used to polish the surface. In the final uwanuri (top coat) step, the most transparent Shunkei lacquer, mixed to each lacquerer's individual formula, is applied with a brush. The finished pieces display a glossy amber color produced by applying highly transparent Shunkei lacquer over a yellow or red base.

How to Identify Hida Shunkei

Hida Shunkei pieces are identifiable by their glossy amber appearance, through which the natural wood grain remains visible beneath the transparent lacquer. In Hida, the yellow variant known as Ki-shunkei is the principal production style, while Beni-shunkei (red) is produced only on order. Because each lacquerer holds a different formula for the Shunkei lacquer used in the final top coat, individual pieces carry their own character. The color of a piece changes over time, further distinguishing aged examples. The magemono form—flat boards shaped into three-dimensional objects—is another recognizable structural feature of the craft. The surface may also display one of three characteristic wood-grain treatments: warime, hime, or kannname.

The Craft Today

Hida Shunkei continues to be produced in Takayama City and Hida City in Gifu Prefecture. In April 2016, the Agency for Cultural Affairs included Hida Shunkei as one of 19 elements in the Japan Heritage certification Skills and Spirit of Hida Craftsmen—1,300 Years of Living with Wood, recognizing the broader woodworking tradition of the Hida region. That same year, a new apprentice joined the craft for the first time in 40 years, also becoming the first female craftsman in 22 years. The Hida Takayama Shunkei Kaikan, which had served as a dedicated museum and tourist attraction since 1973, closed in July 2014 after 41 years of operation due to the absence of a successor and declining visitor numbers. The craft has also been applied in contemporary contexts, including the lacquering of string instruments by Italian luthier Ricardo Bergonzi in 2013. As part of the broader Japanese Wood & Bamboo Crafts tradition, Hida Shunkei represents a regionally distinct approach to transparent lacquer finishing rooted in Gifu Prefecture's longstanding woodworking heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Shunkei" mean?

Two theories exist regarding the name. One holds that Kanamori Yoshishige named the lacquerware Shunkei because its yellow glaze resembled the famous ceramic Hi-shunkei tea jar made by potter Kato Kageyuki. Another theory is that the name derives from the season of spring (haru) at the time the original tray was presented to lord Kanamori Shigechika.

When did Hida Shunkei originate?

Hida Shunkei is traced to the early Edo period, with one recorded founding date of 1606 (Keicho 11). The craft is said to have originated when master carpenter Takahashi Kizaemon presented a tray made from accidentally split sawara wood to lord Kanamori Shigechika, who then had official lacquerer Narita Sanemon finish it with transparent lacquer.

What makes Hida Shunkei lacquerware distinctive?

Hida Shunkei is characterized by its use of transparent sukiurushi lacquer, which allows the natural grain of the wood to remain visible. The final top coat uses a Shunkei lacquer formula specific to each individual lacquerer, giving each piece a unique character. The color of pieces also changes over time.

What types of wood are used in Hida Shunkei?

Tochi (Japanese horse chestnut) is used for turned items (hikimono), while hinoki (Japanese cypress) and sawara (Sawara cypress) are used for sashimono and magemono items.

Is Hida Shunkei a government-designated traditional craft?

Yes. Hida Shunkei was designated as a Traditional Craft by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on February 17, 1975. In April 2016, it was also recognized as one of 19 elements in the Japan Heritage certification Skills and Spirit of Hida Craftsmen—1,300 Years of Living with Wood, certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.