Asagi-wan bowl

The now-defunct Kiji Master hoped for a reconstruction of the asagi bowl that was loved by the common people in the Edo period. A beautiful lacquer bowl using cypress (cypress) from Keihoku was born from a relationship with a woodworking master who inherited that legacy.

I want to pass on the circle of manufacturing that connects nature and life to the future. The Asagi Bowl Project is also an effort to train successors to Kyoto lacquerware. The thoughts of the creators overlapped at the manufacturing site where they are facing major issues, and it aroused the sympathy of many people.

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Lacquer only for vessels carried to the mouth

Until now, we have proposed ways to use lacquer that go beyond the framework of traditional crafts, such as surfboards, skateboards, and bicycles. However, on the other hand, I want lacquer to be used only on floors and furniture that come into contact with the skin, and above all, on vessels that are carried to the mouth. This is because lacquer is a natural material that can be used safely, and its presence naturally fosters beautiful movements.

I want to leave the work of craftsmen

In Kyoto, traditional techniques unique to this region, such as tea utensils, have been handed down. Skilled craftsmen apply lacquer to wood that has been cut thin enough to let light through, creating lacquerware that can be used continuously for over 100 years. However, in the modern age where things are overflowing, the number of situations where craftsmen are required to do their handiwork is decreasing year by year. Even if young people aspire to be craftsmen, they cannot practice ascetic practices because they have nothing to make. Various activities are being carried out not only in the Asagi Bowl Project but all over the country to try to fix the current situation.

A vessel made with the user in mind

Even with bowls that look similar, if you look closely, you can see that the creator's thoughts are expressed everywhere, such as the size of the hill, the curves that shape the round form, and the thickness of the body part. The shape is decided while imagining scenes from life and what kind of people use it in what way.

This clam bowl has a high stand that supports the torso and has a dignified appearance. It is a very elegant, Kyoto-like vessel. I dared to make the children's bowl smaller than the adult bowl. Wrap it tightly in the palm of your hand and enjoy the soup and noodles. I thought that by treating vessels with care, a sense of appreciation for food would be fostered.

An opportunity for people to learn about lacquer and crafts

A bowl for everyday use that Ishikawa Koji, a now-deceased woodworker, tried to make to pass on Kyoto lacquerware culture to the next generation. Rokuro Kiji's Nishimura Naoki inherited that will, and Nishimura Yoshinori, a lacquer artist who set out to protect Naoki's techniques. In addition to Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi, many other people joined the group, and the Asagi Bowl was completed. I would be very happy if this project led to someone falling in love with lacquer and crafts.

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■Click here for the Asagi Bowl product page

https://www.kourin-urushi.com/?pid=169587298

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