Asada Lacquerware Studio

Yamanaka Lacquerware／Asada Lacquerware Studio
Vessels that transform with every use.

About Asada Lacquerware Studio
Located in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture, Asada Lacquerware Studio is a workshop that carries out every stage of lacquerware production — from traditional woodturning (rokuro-biki) to lacquering — entirely by hand. Using domestically sourced wood, the studio creates approachable Yamanaka lacquerware designed to enrich daily life.
Their philosophy: “Through lacquerware, we hope people feel the warmth of wood.”
Balancing tradition and modernity, Asada Lacquerware continues to explore new forms that fit contemporary lifestyles while remaining faithful to centuries-old techniques.
The story began when founder Kyosaku Asada learned woodturning skills in the village of Ouchi, Yamanaka Onsen, and began his path as a wood craftsman. After training ten apprentices, his eldest son Takao Asada succeeded him, and together with his brothers, contributed greatly to the development of Yamanaka lacquerware.
In 1977, Takao founded Asada Lacquerware Studio, establishing a legacy built on sincerity and mastery — preserving the harmony of material, technique, and beauty.
At Asada Lacquerware Studio, each piece begins with carefully shaped wood using Yamanaka’s distinctive rokuro (lathe) technique. Various finishing methods such as fuki-urushi (wiped lacquer), me-hajiki, and the rare murakumo-nuri (cloud lacquer) are applied to produce a wide range of expressions. The warmth of wood, the depth of lacquer, and the subtle transformation that occurs with continued use — all are imbued in each vessel.

SUWARI — The Gentle Sway of a Vessel

One of the studio’s signature creations is SUWARI.
Carved thickly from a single block of zelkova wood, SUWARI is designed with a rounded base that gently rocks yet always returns upright by the weight of its own material.
The name SUWARI is inspired by swirling — the elegant motion of rotating a wine or whiskey glass to release its aroma. The vessel’s subtle, rhythmic movement evokes this graceful gesture.
Its sides feature the exceptional murakumo-nuri technique, which uses soot from traditional Japanese candles (warousoku). By trapping the soot before the lacquer hardens, an ethereal pattern appears — resembling drifting clouds or flickering flames.
Each time you use it, the appearance changes slightly.
White pieces develop a gentle luster, while vermilion deepens into a richer, more profound red — a transformation that reflects the user’s daily life and care.

About Yamanaka Lacquerware

Your careful life nurtures the vessel’s beauty.
Ishikawa Prefecture is home to Japan’s three major lacquerware regions:
Wajima for its lacquering, Kanazawa for its maki-e (gold decoration), and Yamanaka for its exceptional woodturning craftsmanship.
Among them, Yamanaka lacquerware stands out for its soft tactile feel and beautiful wood grain — a true expression of Japanese living craft.
Its defining feature lies in the technique known as “tategi-dori” (vertical wood cutting), where wood is carved along the grain’s direction.
This approach strengthens the piece and, though only a few vessels can be made from a single log, allows for both durability and delicate shaping. From this skill evolved Yamanaka’s unique techniques such as kashoku-biki (decorative turning) and usu-biki (thin turning).
Yamanaka’s iconic fuki-urushi method involves rubbing raw lacquer deep into the wood and wiping it off repeatedly, highlighting the natural beauty of the grain. Because lacquer reveals even the slightest irregularity in the surface, Yamanaka craftsmen forge their own planes (kanna), customizing each blade’s form and hardness to their individual touch. This delicate harmony of tool and hand gives Yamanaka lacquerware its distinctive character.
Over time, the surface grows glossier, fits more naturally in the hand,
and develops a beauty unique to each user.
Born from a sincere dialogue between craftsman and wood,
Yamanaka lacquerware is a craft that comes to completion through your life.