lacquerwareJuly 24, 2026

Nakanosawa Shikki

Nakanosawa Shikki (浄法寺塗) is a lacquerware tradition produced in Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture, with roots extending to the Heian period. The craft is closely associated with Joboji lacquer (Joboji Urushi), the raw lacquer collected from lacquer trees in northern Iwate Prefecture, southern Aomori Prefecture, and northeastern Akita Prefecture, primarily by lacquer tappers based in Joboji-cho, Ninohe City.

History

The origins of Joboji-nuri lacquerware are traced to the "Oyama Ouki" vessels used by monks of Tendai-ji Temple on Yohasan in Joboji-cho, Ninohe City, during the Heian period. According to temple tradition, Tendai-ji Temple itself was founded in the 5th year of Jinki (728 AD) during the Nara period. The earliest recorded history of lacquer tapping in the Joboji area dates from the Edo period, during which the region came under the control of the Nanbu clan's Morioka Domain. The domain established a lacquer tapping magistrate (urushi-kaki bugyo) and prohibited lacquer from being taken out of the domain. During this era, a tapping method known as "Yojo-gaki" (nurturing tapping) was practiced, collecting both sap and seeds without weakening the tree.

During the Meiji period, seasonal lacquer tappers called "Echizen-shu" arrived from Imadate-cho (present-day Imadate district, Echizen City), Fukui Prefecture. These tappers employed a method called "Koroshi-gaki" (killing tapping), which extracts all lacquer from a single tree within one year. From the Showa to Heisei periods, Joboji lacquer was used in major restoration projects including Chuson-ji Konjikido in Iwate Prefecture, Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, and Nikko Tosho-gu, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnoji in Tochigi Prefecture. In February 2015, the Agency for Cultural Affairs issued a notice that domestic lacquer should be used when repairing national treasures and important cultural properties. Starting in fiscal year 2016, Ninohe City established the "Urushibito" program, hiring applicants as city employees and training them to become lacquer tappers over several years. In 2011, the Joboji Lacquer Industry received the Good Design Award (Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner's Award). Joboji lacquer is also registered under the Geographical Indication (GI) Protection System of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with registration number 73.

Techniques & Production Process

Lacquer tappers purchase the original trees from their owners the year before tapping, generally selecting trees with a breast-height diameter of 10 cm or more. Because a lacquer tree requires approximately 20 years of growth before its sap can be harvested, the production cycle demands long-term planning. Tapping is performed using dedicated tools including a kaki-gama (tapping sickle) and a kaki-bera (tapping spatula), which are used to wound the trunk and collect the exuded lacquer sap.

Two distinct tapping methods have been used in the region. The traditional "Yojo-gaki" method, practiced during the Edo period, collected sap and seeds without killing the tree. The "Koroshi-gaki" method, introduced by the Echizen-shu during the Meiji period, extracts all lacquer from a single tree within one season, after which the tree does not survive. After collection, lacquer undergoes a two-stage refining process: first, a stirring process called "Nayashi" homogenizes the components and refines particles; then a stirring process called "Kurome" is performed with added heat to remove excess moisture. Refined Joboji lacquer is shipped in barrel units of 1 kan-me (3.75 kg) or more to domestic brokers and lacquer refiners. In general domestic "Mori-urushi" (piled lacquer), urushiol content is 70–75%, water content is 20–25%, and gum and nitrogenous matter make up a few percent.

To learn more about the broader tradition of Japanese urushi craft, see our guide to Japanese Lacquerware. Related regional traditions include Hidehira-nuri: Historic Lacquerware from Iwate, another lacquerware tradition originating in Iwate Prefecture, as well as Echizen Shikki: Lacquerware from Fukui, whose craftspeople historically contributed to the Joboji tapping tradition.

How to Identify Nakanosawa Shikki

Joboji lacquer is recognized as a high-quality lacquer due to its high urushiol content. A Joboji Lacquer Certification System has been introduced whereby barrels of Joboji lacquer certified by a Certification Committee composed of local government representatives and experts are affixed with a certification mark. The "Nihon Urushi-kaki Gijutsu Hozonkai" (Japan Lacquer Tapping Technique Preservation Society) has been certified as the preservation body for the nationally designated preservation technique "Japanese Lacquer Production and Refining."

The Craft Today

Joboji lacquer accounts for approximately 70% of domestically produced lacquer in Japan, making it the highest-volume domestic producer. However, in the 21st century, more than 98% of lacquer used in Japan is Chinese-made, which is less expensive. The Agency for Cultural Affairs has identified a gap between demand and supply: the required amount of domestic lacquer is 2.2 tonnes per year, while current domestic production is approximately 1.2 tonnes, roughly half the requirement.

The number of lacquer tappers in the Joboji region has declined significantly. In the 1940s–1950s (Showa 20s), there were more than 300 lacquer tappers; by the Heisei period, this number had dropped to approximately 20. Current figures place the number of tappers at around 25. Annual production volume of the production area is around 1 tonne. The number of lacquer trees in the city has decreased to approximately 152,000 trees. To address the decline in practitioners, Ninohe City's "Urushibito" program, established in fiscal year 2016, trains new lacquer tappers as city employees over several years. Other sibling lacquerware traditions from neighboring regions include Tsugaru-nuri: Multi-Layer Lacquerware from Aomori and Wajima-nuri: Renowned Lacquerware from Ishikawa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Joboji lacquer and where does it come from?

Joboji lacquer (Joboji Urushi) refers to raw lacquer collected from lacquer trees in northern Iwate Prefecture, southern Aomori Prefecture, and northeastern Akita Prefecture. It is primarily harvested by lacquer tappers based in Joboji-cho, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture.

How significant is Joboji lacquer within Japan's domestic lacquer production?

Joboji lacquer accounts for approximately 70% of domestically produced lacquer in Japan. Despite this, more than 98% of lacquer used in Japan in the 21st century is imported from China, as it is less expensive than domestic production.

How long does it take to produce Joboji lacquer?

A lacquer tree requires approximately 20 years of growth before its sap can be harvested. Lacquer tappers purchase trees the year before tapping and generally select trees with a breast-height diameter of 10 cm or more.

What notable restoration projects have used Joboji lacquer?

From the Showa to Heisei periods, Joboji lacquer was used in the restoration of Chuson-ji Konjikido in Iwate Prefecture, Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, and Nikko Tosho-gu, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnoji in Tochigi Prefecture. In 2015, the Agency for Cultural Affairs issued a notice that domestic lacquer should be used when repairing national treasures and important cultural properties.

What is being done to preserve the lacquer tapping tradition in Joboji?

Starting in fiscal year 2016, Ninohe City established the "Urushibito" program, which hires applicants as city employees and trains them to become lacquer tappers over several years. The "Nihon Urushi-kaki Gijutsu Hozonkai" has also been certified as the preservation body for the nationally designated preservation technique "Japanese Lacquer Production and Refining."